Michał Smandek

Michał Smandek is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, where he maintains an active studio practice alongside his teaching responsibilities. A visual artist with a doctorate from the University of Arts in Poznań, Smandek has established himself as a significant figure in contemporary Polish art through his innovative exploration of human-nature relationships and environmental consciousness.

• Doctor of Arts from the University of Arts in Poznań
• Assistant Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice
• Active participant in international art biennales and festivals worldwide

Smandek's artistic practice critically examines anthropocentrism and materialism while drawing attention to environmental degradation. His methodology emphasizes traveling with minimal equipment (backpack and tent), engaging with natural landscapes through interventions that blur the line between artistic action and 'noticing' situations with high artistic value. He creates sculptures, installations, photographs, and initiates collective and performative activities that often involve collaboration with local communities. His most significant artistic endeavor is the 'Spirit of the Hive' project, representing years of developing a collaborative relationship with bee colonies, which culminated in the 2024 'Bee Library' project that received national recognition.

Analysis of Smandek's recent publications reveals consistent engagement with interspecies communication, environmental awareness, and participatory art practices. His work demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of spatial relationships, material transformation, and ecological consciousness across multiple media and international contexts.

• Laureate of the ShowOFF section of Krakow Photomonth (2015)
• Laureate of the Hestia Artistic Journey National Grant Program with the 'Bee Library' project (2024)
• Multiple scholarship holder of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage
• Multiple scholarship holder of the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship
• Participant in International Land Art Biennale LAM 360° in Mongolia (2014)
• Participant in International Bangla Biennale in India (2019)
• Participant in Backlight Photo Festival in Finland (2020)
• Participant in SACO Contemporary Art Biennial in Chile (2023)

Smandek has received consistent institutional support through various grants and residencies, including multiple scholarships from cultural authorities. His international participation in the Polish Culture in the World Program demonstrates his commitment to exploring environmental themes through cross-cultural collaboration in Japan, India, Mongolia, and Chile. His teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice integrates his artistic research, particularly his work with bees and environmental interventions, into the educational process.

Smandek's primary artistic laboratory is the natural environment itself, where he conducts his 'Spirit of the Hive' project involving collaboration with bee colonies. His practice often incorporates temporary interventions in landscapes requiring engagement with local communities, emphasizing minimal impact while creating meaningful artistic expressions that highlight ecological relationships and interspecies communication.