Katowice — “Talent, Passion, Intuition”

Silesian Museum. Curated by Sonia Wilk. A landmark survey — over 200 works by 100 artists, from classics (Nikifor, Teofil Ociepka) to newly discovered voices. Pan Miś’s inclusion signals genuine recognition within the art brut field.

Year 2025 Venue Silesian Museum, Katowice Type group exhibition Curator Sonia Wilk

About

“Talent, Passion, Intuition” continues the legacy of survey exhibitions launched by Aleksander Jackowski in 1985 and 2005, and opens a new series focused on current research in non-professional art in Poland.

“The Shed No. 2” — Pan Miś pavilion

Inside the museum we built a dedicated pavilion — “The Shed No. 2” — a true replica of the artist’s workspace. It wasn’t mere scenography but an extension of Pan Miś’s world. As the project’s curator (Maciej, the artist’s brother) I arranged the space to retain the raw, authentic atmosphere of our workshop.

For the first time we presented the entire “Apocalypse” cycle: a dark saga, inspired by “Terminator”, a warning against blind faith in technology and transhumanism. Michał states it simply: “man should not play God”. The works’ raw energy reverberated through the museum.

Context & people

We reached Ms. Wilk through a note with contact details handed to us by Pavel Konečný during his first studio visit. Ms. Wilk — the head of non-professional art at Poland’s key institution in this field — visited privately and later with artist Jan Nowak (a retired miner — a hero figure to Michał). In a warm atmosphere we agreed on a “show within a show”: a closed, self-contained Apocalypse pavilion.

Working with a highly professional team only amplified Pan Miś’s expression: identity, non-belonging and inner tensions — the core themes of his work — came across even stronger.

Gallery (selection)

Thanks

To Sonia Wilk for trust and support; to everyone who helped us arrive here; to Jan Nowak for his presence and conversation; and to technician Krystian for phenomenal, “silent” cooperation — it felt like working with a brother.