Artists

Mikołaj
Sobczak

Painter, performer, author of video fllms

Mikołaj Sobczak (b. 1989) graduated the Academy of Fine Arts Warsaw (PL) in the Studio of Spatial Activities, followed by a scholarship at Universität der Künste Berlin (DE), and studied as well at Kunstakademie Münster (DE). He is also a resident artist at Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam (NL). He works in video, paintings and ceramics, often including performative actions as well. He frequently collaborates with German artist Nicholas Grafia.

His most recent exhibitions include shows at MoMA (Warsaw), Museum Ludwig (Cologne), Capitain Petzel Gallery (Berlin).

In his work, Sobczak is focused on political issues and historical policy. Emphasizing the perspective and life of marginalized subjects, he builds narratives, and tracks down the reasons for current global and social issues.

Selected solo and group exhibitions:

2023

Lutzi Puppe Wutzi, 56th Steirischer Herbst, Graz (AT)
Panoramas (w/Dominika Kowynia), Polana Institute at Nowy Teatr, Warsaw
Risjk Open, Amsterdam (NL)
Illiberal Lives, Ludwig Forum Aachen (DE)
Heretics Forever, Galerie Max Mayer, Düsseldorf (DE)

2022

Gutsherr, MOS, Gorzów Wlkp. (PL)
Leibeigene, Kunsthalle Münster (DE)
Blue Wheat, Galeria Bielska BWA, Bielsko-Biała (PL)
Omelette Papier, Capitain Petzel, Berlin (DE)

2021

Illiberal Arts, HKW, Berlin (DE)
Mudam Performance Season: The Illusion of the End, Mudam Luxembourg – Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean (LU)
Steirischer herbst Festival, Graz Galerie, Graz (AU)
Gisela Capitain, Cologne (DE)
In the beginning was the deed, Galeria Arsenał, Białystok (PL)
Żegnaj, Wołyniu! Прощай, Волинь!” (Goodbye, Volhynia!), performance, Zachęta National Gallery of Art, Warsaw (PL)
Battlefield, Galeria Bielska BWA, Bielsko-Biała (PL)
Metamorphoses, Polana Institute, Warsaw (PL)

2020

VII Moscow International Biennale for Young Art, Moscow (RU)
Biennale Zielona Góra, Lubuski Theatre, Zielona Góra (PL)
Warsaw Under Construction: Something Common, Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw (PL)
The Kitchen, Polana Institute, Warsaw (PL)
Crack Up - Crack Down, Ujazdowski CCA, Warsaw (PL)
On the Politics of Delicacy, Capitain Petzel, Berlin (DE)
i'm from nowhere good, Maison Populaire, Paris (FR)  

2019

Parasite Eve, performance in the frames of Transcorporealities, Ludwig Museum, Cologne (DE)
New Kingdom, Polana Institute, Warsaw (PL) 
The Last Place on Earth, Polana Institute at Museum of the Earth in Warsaw
DISPLAY. Staging Identities, Dortmunder Kunstverein, Dortmund (DE)
Elbow Room, Physical Education I, Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Düsseldorf (DE) 
Body Works, State Art Gallery, Sopot (PL)
The Rose and the Ring, Polana Institute, Petrykozy (PL)
Short Films Festival, Oberhausen (DE)

2018

The Doomed Ones, Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw (PL)
Artists‘ Film International, Whitechapel Gallery, London (UK)
Wonder Woman, Polana Institute, Warsaw (PL)
Gentle Heterodoxy. Social Body and its Enchantments, fffriedrich, Frankfurt (DE) Bad Juju, Exo Exo at New Galerie, Paris (FR)
Somewhere in Between: Contemporary Art Scenes in Europe., BOZAR, Brussels, (BE) 
What Is Enlightenment, Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw (PL)
Unbreakable Drag, Polana Institute, Warsaw (PL)

2017

Akademie [Arbeitstitel], Kunsthalle Düsseldorf (DE)
Open Triennal, 8th Young Triennale in Orońsko, Centre of Polish Sculpture, Orońsko (PL)
Love, Memory, Curiosity, Polana Institute at The Geological Museum, Warsaw (PL)
GrandTour project, Skulptur Projekte Münster (DE)

2016

Wie traurig war das Shooting, Kunstverein Gelsenkirchen (DE)
Studio for Students: Video Art Now, Studio Gallery, Warsaw (PL)
Video Folkwang, Museum Folkwang, Essen (DE)

2015

Squeez me, Satellite Space, Santa Monica (USA)
(Ungeschminkte), Galerie 52, Essen (DE)
ΜΎΘΟΙ. Myths. Students/Artists/Teachers. A process of exchange, Fondazione Pastificio Cerere, Rome (IT)
Videonews, Labirynt Gallery, Lublin (PL)
No pasarán, BWA Tarnów Gallery, Tarnów (PL)
 

 

Exhibitions view

Works

The Last Glance
Mikołaj Sobczak The Last Glance watercolor on paper 2020
Cross Talk Vanguard
Mikołaj Sobczak Cross Talk Vanguard ceramics 2010
The Cafeteria
Mikołaj Sobczak The Cafeteria acrylic paint on canvas 2020
Gorgona Baptism
Mikołaj Sobczak Gorgona Baptism ceramics 2020
Untitled
Mikołaj Sobczak Untitled watercolor on paper 2018
Love (Yasminum)
Mikołaj Sobczak Love (Yasminum) watercolor on paper 2018
Love (Leg Kiss)
Mikołaj Sobczak Love (Leg Kiss) watercolor on paper 2018
Love (Night)
Mikołaj Sobczak Love (Night) watercolor on paper 2018
Mikołaj Sobczak acrylic paint on canvas 2020
SIR
Mikołaj Sobczak SIR acrylic paint on canvas 2020
STAR
Mikołaj Sobczak STAR video 2017
Marsha P. Johnson, „STAR” series
Mikołaj Sobczak Marsha P. Johnson, „STAR” series watercolor on paper 2017
Ewa Hołuszko, „STAR” series
Mikołaj Sobczak Ewa Hołuszko, „STAR” series watercolor on paper 2017
Sylvia Riviera, „STAR” series
Mikołaj Sobczak Sylvia Riviera, „STAR” series watercolor on paper 2017
The Cursed Soldiers (Archeology)
Mikołaj Sobczak The Cursed Soldiers (Archeology) acrylic paint on canvas 2018
The Cursed Soldiers (Lactation)
Mikołaj Sobczak The Cursed Soldiers (Lactation) acrylic paint on canvas 2018
The Cursed Soldiers (Parenthood)
Mikołaj Sobczak The Cursed Soldiers (Parenthood) acrylic paint on canvas 2018
Barricade
Mikołaj Sobczak Barricade acrylic paint on canvas 2018
The Cursed Soldiers (Reconstruction)
Mikołaj Sobczak The Cursed Soldiers (Reconstruction) acrylic paint on canvas 2018
Monuments (Ewa Hołuszko, Maria Wittek, Katarzyna Kobro, David Wojnarowicz)
Mikołaj Sobczak Monuments (Ewa Hołuszko, Maria Wittek, Katarzyna Kobro, David Wojnarowicz) watercolor on paper 2019
Cycnus and Phaethon
Mikołaj Sobczak Cycnus and Phaethon acrylic and enamel on wood 2021
Diana and Acteon
Mikołaj Sobczak Diana and Acteon acrylic and enamel on wood 2021
New Kingdom (Protest)
Mikołaj Sobczak New Kingdom (Protest) watercolor on paper 2019
Venus and Adonis
Mikołaj Sobczak Venus and Adonis 2021
Perseus and Andromeda (diptych)
Mikołaj Sobczak Perseus and Andromeda (diptych) acrylic and enamel on wood 2021
On The Pier (Marsha)
Mikołaj Sobczak On The Pier (Marsha) watercolor on paper 2018
Cut Sleeve
Mikołaj Sobczak Cut Sleeve acrylic paint on canvas 2019
Conjunctivitis
Mikołaj Sobczak Conjunctivitis watercolor on paper 2018
Fence II
Mikołaj Sobczak Fence II watercolor on paper 2018
Medusa Baptize
Mikołaj Sobczak Medusa Baptize watercolor on paper 2019
Fence I
Mikołaj Sobczak Fence I watercolor on paper 2018
The Accursed Ones
Mikołaj Sobczak The Accursed Ones video 2018
Willi aus dem Brosenerbunker
Mikołaj Sobczak Willi aus dem Brosenerbunker watercolor on paper 2019
The Jury
Mikołaj Sobczak The Jury watercolor on paper 2019
The Shelf
Mikołaj Sobczak The Shelf watercolor on paper 2019
Mikołaj Sobczak watercolor on paper 2019
Speaking in Tongues
Mikołaj Sobczak Speaking in Tongues watercolor on paper 2019
The Noonman
Mikołaj Sobczak The Noonman watercolor on paper 2019
Ewa Hołuszko
Mikołaj Sobczak Ewa Hołuszko watercolor on paper 2018
The Threatened Assasin
Mikołaj Sobczak The Threatened Assasin watercolor on paper 2018
Jan Bockelson with A Scrotum
Mikołaj Sobczak Jan Bockelson with A Scrotum watercolor on paper 2019
Znamia
Mikołaj Sobczak Znamia acrylic paint on canvas 2021
The Request to Charon
Mikołaj Sobczak The Request to Charon acrylic paint on canvas 2019
Mikołaj Sobczak watercolor on paper 2018
Mikołaj Sobczak acrylic paint on canvas 2019
Witch Trial Salem
Mikołaj Sobczak Witch Trial Salem acrylic paint on canvas 2018
Snails Riot I, II
Mikołaj Sobczak Snails Riot I, II ceramic 2019
Mikołaj Sobczak watercolor on paper 2019
Dizzy
Mikołaj Sobczak Dizzy watercolor on paper 2018
The Beginning of A State (After The Revolution)
Mikołaj Sobczak The Beginning of A State (After The Revolution) acrylic paint on canvas 2018
At The Pier (Marsha)
Mikołaj Sobczak At The Pier (Marsha) watercolor on paper 2018
The Beginning of A State (Raft)
Mikołaj Sobczak The Beginning of A State (Raft) acrylic paint on canvas 2018
The Last Night
Mikołaj Sobczak The Last Night watercolor on paper 2020
The Show
Mikołaj Sobczak The Show acrylic paint on canvas 2020
The Cafeteria
Mikołaj Sobczak The Cafeteria watercolor on paper 2019
Demonstration
Mikołaj Sobczak Demonstration colour pencil, watercolours on paper 2020
Self-Portrait on a Platform
Mikołaj Sobczak Self-Portrait on a Platform watercolor on paper 2018
Going Away
Mikołaj Sobczak Going Away watercolor on paper 2020
Teachers
Mikołaj Sobczak Teachers watercolor on paper 2020
Mikołaj Sobczak crayon, ink on paper 2020
Chopin and the Vampire
Mikołaj Sobczak Chopin and the Vampire watercolor on paper 2020
Mikołaj Sobczak watercolor on paper 2020
Wonder Woman
Mikołaj Sobczak Wonder Woman watercolor on paper 2018
The Diary of Madman
Mikołaj Sobczak The Diary of Madman watercolor on paper 2021
Freaks (copy)
Mikołaj Sobczak Freaks (copy) acrylic paint on canvas 2018
Witch Examination (copy)
Mikołaj Sobczak Witch Examination (copy) acrylic paint on canvas 2018
Mikołaj Sobczak watercolor on paper 2018
Gorgona
Mikołaj Sobczak Gorgona acrylic paint on canvas 2020
Orgy
Mikołaj Sobczak Orgy acrylic paint on canvas 2020
Cacerolazo
Mikołaj Sobczak Cacerolazo acrylic paint on canvas 2020
Burning
Mikołaj Sobczak Burning acrylic paint on canvas 2020
Mantis
Mikołaj Sobczak Mantis acrylic paint on canvas 2020
Scapegoat
Mikołaj Sobczak Scapegoat acrylic paint on canvas 2020