From May 15 through August 15, Zieta Studio, in collaboration with the Pilecki Institute in New York and the Polish Cultural Institute New York, presents ZIETA ILLUSTRATED. The exhibition brings together Oskar Zięta’s iconic metal objects and graphic interpretations by renowned Polish illustrators, creating a dynamic dialogue between image and form. Presented as part of…
On Lines, Color, and Emotion
ZIETA ILLUSTRATED brings together Oskar Zięta’s iconic metal objects and graphic interpretations by leading Polish illustrators, expanding the dialogue between image and form. It explores how technology can become an artistic language and illustration a powerful tool for reinterpretation.
Its curatorial concept is rooted in the intersection of art, design, engineering, and technology. By bridging these disciplines, the exhibition highlights the innovation of contemporary Polish design and its growing international significance.
At the heart of the exhibition is FiDU, Zieta Studio’s proprietary technology, which shapes steel using internal air pressure. Zięta describes the process as a „controlled loss of control,” allowing the material to deform with a degree of autonomy. The result is a series of ultralight, durable forms that are simultaneously functional, sculptural, and structural.
The Power of Connection
This spirit of experimentation and openness naturally extends to the collaboration with illustrators, whose work explores emotion, line, color, and visual storytelling. The result is ZIETA ILLUSTRATED—a project in which leading Polish illustrators reinterpret Oskar Zięta’s iconic objects through a series of limited-edition prints, revealing new meanings and visual narratives.
„We like challenges, and we like to connect. Therefore, we initiated the Zieta Illustrated project, whose goal is to support young artists, combine disciplines, and tell stories together.”
— Oskar Zięta, project founder
The exhibition features works by Karol Banach, Edgar Bąk, Katarzyna Bogucka, Ola Dobrzyńska, Iza Dudzik, Kuba Ferenc, Joanna Gniady, Malwina Hajduk, Ada Jarzębowska, Jakub Kamiński, Agata Królak, Paweł Mildner, Marian Misiak, Anna Niemierko, Maciej Polak, Paweł Smardzewski, Paweł Szlotawa, and Asia Wójtowicz.
A Traveling, Multidimensional Project
The project’s origins date back to 2014, when Oskar Zięta collaborated with graphic designer Marian Misiak on a publication devoted to the 3+ furniture system. Their collaboration resulted not only in a series of illustrations but also in the now-iconic FiDU Alphabet—a collection of steel letterforms—and the Maria1 typeface. Another early example of visual storytelling inspired by Zięta’s work was the animation Ultraleggera, dedicated to the world’s lightest chair.
Since then, ZIETA ILLUSTRATED has evolved into a flexible exhibition concept that adapts to a variety of venues and audiences. The project continues to grow through museum exhibitions, design fairs, publications, and digital platforms. Previous editions have been presented at the Institute of Industrial Design in Warsaw, Wrocław Town Hall, and LUMAS Gallery in Toronto.
„The New York edition represents a mature stage of the project. The exhibition at the Pilecki Institute not only presents objects and illustrations but creates an experience—one that engages both visual and tactile perception.”
— Oskar Zięta
Touching Forms and Stories
The New York presentation of ZIETA ILLUSTRATED introduces a distinctive tactile dimension. Each object can be explored through a three-dimensional model, allowing visitors to experience the exhibition through touch. Developed with visitors with visual impairments in mind, this approach extends the exhibition beyond traditional visual perception. Exhibition materials are also available in Braille and large-print formats, complemented by an online audio guide.
— Oskar Zięta
How Does Air Sculpt Steel?
The exhibition has been accompanied by a series of public programs, including a conversation with Oskar Zięta and a live demonstration of the FiDU process. This educational and performative experience brings the concept of „less is less” to life, demonstrating how reducing weight, material use, and energy consumption can produce innovative forms—and how air itself can become a structural tool.
ZIETA ILLUSTRATED in New York serves as a platform for international and cross-disciplinary collaboration. It explores the potential of technology as an artistic medium, illustration as a means of interpreting form, and the exhibition itself as a space for contemporary cultural dialogue.
Project Information
ZIETA ILLUSTRATED is part of the project „Zieta Studio: Polish Design and Illustrations at New York City Design Week and the ICFF 2026 Trade Fair,” co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland through the Institute of Creative Industries’ Development of Creative Sectors Program, and supported by the Pilecki Institute in New York and the Polish Cultural Institute New York.
The exhibition is presented as part of the NYCxDESIGN 2026 Festival.
Visitor Information
ZIETA ILLUSTRATED
The Pilecki Institute in New York
Small Gallery, Second Floor
92 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10006
Exhibition Dates
May 15–August 15, 2026
Gallery Hours
• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday–Thursday: 12:00 PM–6:00 PM
• Friday: 12:00 PM–8:00 PM
• Saturday: 12:00 PM–7:00 PM
• Closed on federal holidays
Admission: Free
Contact
Zieta Studio
ul. Kościerzyńska 16-18
51-430 Wrocław / Poland
Email: press@zieta.pl
Website: https://www.zieta.pl/
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