Paweł Starzec

Paweł Starzec, Ph.D., serves as Vice-Dean for Student Affairs at SWPS University's Faculty of Design in Warsaw and coordinates the Communication Design specialization at School of Form. A sociologist and documentary photographer, he specializes in semiology of images, contemporary iconography, and visual narrations. His academic journey includes doctoral studies in Applied Social Sciences at the University of Warsaw and photography studies at the Silesian University in Opava.

Starzec's research focuses on documenting long-term social processes through their aftermath and consequences, particularly examining how historical traumas manifest in contemporary landscapes. His work bridges visual sociology and documentary practice, with particular attention to the relationship between space, history, and social memory. His signature project 'Makeshift' investigates sites of atrocities from the Bosnian War, revealing how these locations have been repurposed or erased from public memory.

His photographic work demonstrates a consistent pattern of examining ordinary spaces that conceal extraordinary historical significance, from war sites in Bosnia to closed music clubs during the pandemic. This approach reveals how societies process trauma through spatial transformations and visual documentation.

• Hasselblad Foundation Photo Book Grant 2025
• Young Poland Ministry of Culture scholarship 2024
• PixHouse Talent of the Year Scholar award
• Artistic Scholarship of the Mayor of Wrocław 2024
• Urbanautica Institute Award
• Encontros da Imagem Discovery Award
• Spojrzenia Award

Beyond his academic role, Starzec actively contributes to cultural discourse through workshops at institutions including the University of Warsaw, Academy of Fine Arts in multiple Polish cities, and international venues. His collaborative projects include co-founding Azimuth Press, the Papier Bije Kamień Foundation, and the Archive of Public Protests platform. As a part-time musician and sound artist performing under various pseudonyms, he maintains strong connections to DIY culture and zine production, enriching his interdisciplinary approach to visual sociology.