Jan. 21 - Feb. 14 - 2025
Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
Harrisburg Area Community College
1 HACC Dr, Harrisburg, PA 17110

Public Lecture
February 3 - 2025, at 6pm

Celebrating the Polish School of Posters with Selections from the Collection of Krzysztof Piatkowski

The Walls Belong to Them: Celebrating the Polish School of Posters with Selections from the Collection of Krzysztof Piatkowski


Exhibition dates:
January 21 - February 14 - 2025

Public Lecture:
February 3 - 2025, at 6pm | Whitaker 214 
A reception will follow the lecture at the gallery


Location:
Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
1 HACC Dr, Harrisburg, PA 17110

Monday - Friday: 11 am - 3 pm
Tuesday and Thursday: 5 pm - 7 pm
Or by appointment

Curator | Designer: Krzysztof Piatkowski
Gallery Coordinator: Shawn Williams
Graphic Design Program Director: Marjaneh Talebi

Selected posters from the
collection of
Krzysztof Piatkowski

The poster was never made to be collected, stored in flat files, or hung in museums. It belonged on the walls, fences, and streets, serving as the purest form of communication with the masses.

Nowhere was this more evident than in a unique design movement called the Polish School of Posters, where artistry and purpose converged to create a timeless cultural legacy.

In the aftermath of World War II, Poland faced the weight of Soviet control, with censorship and restrictions shadowing daily life. Emerging in the 1950s and 1960s, the Polish School of Posters represented an unparalleled era of artistic innovation, blending bold imagery with poignant social commentary in the face of adversity. Artists creatively outsmarted censors with creativity that transcended political and social boundaries. Through its use of symbolism, metaphor, and layered meanings, the movement invited audiences to engage with the posters on intellectual and emotional levels. Artists embraced individualism, merging Poland’s storied visual traditions with modern aesthetics to craft designs that resonate globally.

The Walls Belong to Them exhibition brings this powerful legacy to life, featuring 30 iconic posters from the collection of Krzysztof Piatkowski, a graphic designer and proud HACC alumnus.

HACC is the proud patron of the "The Walls Belong to Them" exhibition

In collaboration with and supported by the Polish Cultural Institute New York  

With support from The Art Of Poster

    • Curator: Krzysztof Piatkowski

    • Exhibition design: Krzysztof Piatkowski

    • Gallery coordinator: Shawn Williams

    • “The Polish Poster To Me Is…” Artwork | James Victore

    • Photos by Wojciech Zamecznik | Courtesy of Juliusz Zamecznik | Family Archive

    • Photos by Wojciech Zamecznik | Wirtualne Muzeum Fotografii

    • Photos of Waldemar Swierzy | Courtesy of Janek Marczewski | Family Archive

    • Photos of Maria “Mucha” Ihnatowicz | Courtesy of Maria Herman | Family Archive

    • Photos of Bronisław Zelek | Courtesy of Hertha Grimm | Bronisław Zelek Archive

  • The "The Walls Belong to Them" exhibition and its contents, including the 30 iconic posters displayed, are protected by copyright. These works are part of the private collection of Krzysztof Piatkowski. All rights to the posters and their designs are retained by their respective creators and copyright holders.

    This exhibition has been curated to honor the artistic and historical legacy of these posters, presented with the express consent of the collector. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or use of these works in any form is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from the respective rights holders.