Natalia Wiernik is a visual artist, educator, founder of the interdisciplinary project WELCOME. Currently, her primary artistic practice is centered around the WELCOME initiative, where she invites artists and specialists from various fields to collaborate on socially engaged art projects that comment on and respond to contemporary issues.
In 2017, with photojournalist Omar Marquez created the exhibition REFUGEES, which dealt with the themes of migration and the situation of refugees in contemporary Europe. The exhibition was attacked and partially destroyed by nationalist-radical groups who opposed Poland’s acceptance of refugees from the Middle East and Africa. The act of vandalism, which occurred on the day of the opening, unexpectedly sparked a wave of support among members of local communities who united against such lawlessness. As part of the exhibition, a charitable auction of art works was held to benefit a foundation providing medical aid in refugee camps.
The events surrounding REFUGEES became a direct impetus for the creation of the WELCOME project. In May 2022, the first WELCOME event took place, featuring the publication’s release, a conference, and an exhibition. The project was a response to the situation of refugees on the Polish–Belarusian border, as well as to the radical change in Europe’s and the world’s circumstances caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. For this initiative, Natalia Wiernik initiated the formation of the MNRT (minority) collective. Collaborating with specialists from various fields of science, literature, and art, they together addressed the most pressing issues of the humanitarian crisis. The event also saw the premiere of the book WELCOME designed by Gabriela Basta, with all proceeds donated to the Ocalenie Foundation.
The next WELCOME event was the exhibition “HOW ARE YOU?”, addressing the global crisis caused by ongoing wars around the world. Held at the Bunkier Sztuki Gallery in Kraków, it showcased works by artists from Ukraine, Syria, Kurdistan, and Poland. During the opening, Kurdish musicians performed songs in a language banned in countries such as Iran.
As part of the accompanying events, Natalia Wiernik led a debate titled “War/Art/Therapy” with Prof. Bogdan de Barbaro and Dr. Wojciech Drath in Kraków.Moreover, for over 10 years Natalia Wiernik has been photographing families as part of her long-term project The Protagonists, investigating how the concept of family is redefined and observing how society evolves in this context.
She has been studying for several years in the field of the so-called third wave of cognitive-behavioral therapy, with a particular focus on ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and FAP (Functional Analytic Psychotherapy), which have become her parallel passion and area of commitment alongside art.
2025
Once a year the stick shoots (photobook, artists: Nastasiia Leliu and Natalia Wiernik, the upcoming collaboration with BLOW UP PRESS)
hoW ARe you? (photobook, artists: Maria Matiashova and Dima Tolkachov, design Gabriela Basta, curated by Natalia Wiernik)
2023/24
hoW ARe you? (Exhibition curated by Natalia Wiernik and Kholoud Charaf), The Foundation for Visual Arts (Photomonth Photography Festival), Bunkier Sztuki Art Gallery, Krakow, PL
2022
hoW ARe you? (Exhibition in public space), organizer: Das Feministische Kapital, Schauffhausen, CH
(un)WELCOME (Photomonth Photography Festival), ASP Gallery, Krakow, PL
2021
Polish art of the 20th and 21st century (Permament Gallery), National Museum, Krakow, PL
ANIMALIUM (Photomonth Photography Festival), Gallery of the Jan Matejko, Krakow, PL
2019
All tommorows (TIFF Photography Festival), BWA Wroclaw, PL
The Situation Has Changed. 20th and 21st-Century Polish Art, National Museum, Krakow, PL
2018
Artsite Residenze Reali, Phanes, Tourin, IT
Humble Cats, Photoville, New York, US
In control, Anya Tish Gallery, Houston, US
2017
#Heritage, National Museum in Krakow, PL
Common field, Forum Przestrzenie, Krakow, PL
Refugees. Images of the unseen (cooperation with Omar Marques), Tytano, Krakow, PL
La Quatrieme image – Photography Festival, Paris, FR
Cracow in the box, Historical Museum Of The City of Cracow, PL
Natalia Wiernik is a visual artist working mainly in the field of digital media, photography and site-specific activities. Her artistic practice explores issues related to the notion of ethnic, religious, and national identity and they ways in which they influence one another.
2016
Salty bread, The Cracow Salt Works Museum, Wieliczka, PL
Anomalies/Cognition-recogintion, ASP Gallery, Cracow, PL
Manifesta 11 (What people do for money with Eleonora Stassi), Cabaret Voltaire, Zürich, CH
Owned, Migarations Museum, Zürich, CH
Nuits de projections, Voies off Photography Festival, Arles, FR
Wellfare, International Foto Fest, Houston, US
Display, ASP Gallery, Cracow, PL
2015
Less, Museum of History of Photography, Cracow, PL
Nord Art Festival, Büdelsdorf, DE
Familydom, fsm Gallery, Florence, IT
Break, Garden of Arts in Lesser Poland, Cracow, PL
Thanksgiving, Pusta Gallery, Katowice, PL
2014
Powerhouse Arena, New York, US
New York Photography Festival, New York, US
2013
The Protagonists, General German Consulate in Cracow, PL
Thanksgiving, Pauza Gallery, Cracow, PL
Palace of Art, Cracow, PL
Somerset House, London, UK
For all inquiries
natalia.wiernik@gmail.com
tel. +48 505 234 514
Social
ig @natalia.wiernik
Pałac Potockich
Wyborcza (WELCOME)
Collettiva
Mundane Mag
Wyborcza (REFUGEES)
GUP Magazine
British Journal of Photography
NEOmag
Figaro
L’Obs
BBC
Photographie Germany
Slate Mag
Book Debuts
Humble Arts Foundation
Feature Shoot
Fotohits
Taxidesign
Website by
Gabriela Basta
Natalia Wiernik is a visual artist working mainly in the field of digital media, photography and site-specific activities. Her artistic practice explores issues related to the notion of ethnic, religious, and national identity and they ways in which they influence one another.