Portraits of Stanisław Wyspiański at the National Portrait Gallery in London

Travelling to the UK for the first time, 16 of Stanisław Wyspiański’s most admired portraits, many of which have never been seen outside Poland, will be displayed at the National Portrait Gallery.

Stanisław Wyspiański (1869-1907) is one of Poland’s most important artists. Working across a variety of mediums and disciplines, his art shaped the development of visual culture in Poland at what was to prove a decisive moment in the history of the country.

As a leading figure in the modernist movement, Young Poland, based in Kraków, Wyspiański was hailed by many Poles to be the voice of the nation divided by occupying forces. In response to the country’s political non-existence, Young Poland sought to create a new national art based on folk traditions, exploring cultural identity. The Young Poland movement was considered instrumental in helping bring about Polish independence in 1918.

The new display celebrates the painter, designer, poet and originator of modern Polish theatre. In the portraits, Wyspiański uses bold colour and emphatic line, with figures pressed tight against the picture plane or at a sharp angle leaning away from it.

Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage under the ‘Inspiring Culture’ Programme.

Targeted subsidy for current expenses from the financial resources of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the state budget.

Project: 'Portraits of Stanisław Wyspiański at the National Portrait Gallery in London' under the 'Inspiring Culture' Programme, realised in cooperation with the National Portrait Gallery in London and the Polish Institute in London.

Funding amount: 50 000 PLN (2024), 330 000 PLN (2025). Total value of the project: 297 100 PLN (2024), 935 300 PLN (2025).

Date of signing the agreement on granting a targeted subsidy: September 2024.

Exhibition Stanisław Wyspiański: Portraits is realised in cooperation with the Polish Cultural Institute in London and is supported by the British Council under the UK/Poland Season 2025.