Andrzej Dudziński exhibition at the Polish National Opera
Andrzej Dudziński (1945–2023) belonged to the foremost generation of Polish graphic artists and illustrators of the twentieth century. His work combined originality, ironic humour and keen insight, earning him wide recognition and an early, brilliantly unfolding career of international scope. As art critic Stach Szabłowski observes in the exhibition catalogue, his work inspired commentary from such eminent figures as Adam Zagajewski, Stanisław Barańczak and Nobel laureate Czesław Miłosz.
A student of Henryk Tomaszewski, one of Poland’s most eminent poster designers, Dudziński published his drawings during his studies in the monthly “Polska” and the weeklies “Szpilki” and “Kultura.” He later contributed to magazines such as “Ty i ja,” “Literatura,” “Kulisy” and “Polityka.” After moving to the United States in 1977, he collaborated with leading international titles including “Newsweek,” “The New York Times,” “Playboy,” “Rolling Stone,” “Vanity Fair” and “Time.”
During the 1970s, Andrzej Dudziński captured a wide audience with the figure of Dudi the bird, whose ironic, humorous gaze on contemporary reality became a recurring feature in “Szpilki.” Later, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, another well-known character created by the artist was Pokrak, who appeared regularly in “Tygodnik Powszechny.”
Works by Andrzej Dudziński will be presented in the exhibition “The Case of the Impossible Artist,” on view from December 22 at the Opera Gallery of the Polish National Opera. The Opera Gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is also open to audiences of the Polish National Opera one hour before performances and during intermissions.
Who? What? Where? When?
Andrzej Dudziński “The Case of the Impossible Artist”
December 23, 2025 – March 22, 2026
Opera Gallery, The Polish National Opera