Wiesława Bogdańska

Kurpie culture takes over the world

Her cut-out was presented to the 15th Dalajlama, and wafer decorations made it as far as the Vatican City. In all questionnaires, Mrs. Bogdańska names her profession as folklore artist, although she has a degree in geodesy. Her work in Zagroda Kurpiowska brings her professional satisfaction and allows her to combine her skills with regular paid work. The artistic level of her works was proven with numerous awards and prestigious orders.

In Zagroda Kurpiowska, she is also a guide; she holds workshops for kids, teenagers and adults (also in various places in Poland – in schools, museums, and cultural centres). It is one of the most well-known, entrepreneurial and innovative artists, who weaves in new ideas into the traditional design. The quality of the work of Wiesława Bogdańska is highly appreciated.

She inherited her talents after her mother, Maria Chrostek, a well-known folk artist from the famous Konopka family. Wiesława’s sister, Janina Jaksina, is also a renowned folk artist.

In fact, Wiesława’s whole life is folklore art. She is highly versatile and equally capable in each field. She has been cutting, rolling and forming from the age of twelve; her hands are able to make a meticulous cut-out, precisely roll a flower and form byśki. Her works are characterised, first of all, by high precision, moderation and simplicity of the compositions. Rich in form and colour, the flowers and kierce she makes follow the old patterns, but in paper cutouts she introduces also figurative motifs, such as Mother Mary and Pope John Paul II. Energetic Wiesława takes part in virtually all competitions in the voivodship, bringing home many prizes. She designed and made cutout wafer decorations for the pope John Paul II, by order of the Pauline Fathers from Częstochowa. Her white Easter palms and various Kurpie flowers are on display in a Warsaw restaurant, Alegoria. Mrs. Bogdańska’s cut-out was presented to the spiritual leader of Tibet, Dalajlama the 14th by the Mazowiecki Voivode.

She is also a frequent, if not a full-time guest in television programmes (TVP). You can meet her in Warsaw – just come to the Christmas or Easter Fair to the State Ethnographic Museum, where she appears regularly holding workshops for children and adults, and offering their products for sale. In the course of her creative career, Wiesława Bogdańska has been awarded, among others, with the Oskar Kolberg Award for her contribution to culture, the Badge of Honour of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage and the Gloria Artis medal for her achievements in culture.