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JUSTYNA ŻAK
Visual artist, designer, educator, and researcher
Justyna Żak is a Polish designer and visual artist creating unique works in the field of glass art.
She graduated from the Faculty of Ceramics and Glass at the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław and now serves as an academic lecturer in the Glass Department of the same institution. In 2021, she earned a Ph.D. in fine arts, specializing in design and the conservation of artwork. Awarded a scholarship by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (2020), she is a laureate of numerous national and international competitions. Notably, she received the main award in the Up-Cycle - Closed Circuit as Art competition (2022), an honorable mention in the Young at Start – Elle Decoration contest (2023), and became a f inalist in the MakeMe! international design competition as part of the Łódź Design Festival (2024).
Privately, she is an avid traveler and nature enthusiast, with a passion for mountain hiking.
Nature and the surrounding world are her primary inspirations in her creative work. She draws from natural motifs and processes, fascinated by transformation and change. Her works not only possess artistic and decorative qualities but also serve as carriers of knowledge about nature, the forces that shape it, and the irreversible changes it undergoes.
All of her artistic works are handcrafted in limited series using a wide range of traditional glass-forming techniques.
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Artist Statement
The objects and pieces that we surround ourselves with in our spaces fulfill more than just aesthetic, decorative, or functional roles. They carry symbolic meaning, speaking to us through their form, structure, material, and the techniques used to create them. These objects often evoke feelings and emotions, inspiring thought, reflection, and memories. They tell unique stories, preserving memories of events, places, and people. In my design philosophy, this deeper meaning is paramount. It enables engagement and creates an emotional connection with the viewer. I give objects a "voice," allowing them to serve as visible markers of time, place, and thought, sharing their stories with those who experience them.
"I Am Disappearing"
The "I Am Disappearing" project was directly inspired by my trek around the Mont Blanc massif in August 2023. The sight of receding ice tongues and the sound of cracking glaciers resonating through the valleys left an overwhelming and somber impression on me. It evoked a deep sadness and concern, highlighting the reality of our rapidly changing climate and the looming ecological catastrophe. "I Am Disappearing" aims to draw attention to the climate crisis that affects us all. It serves as a prompt for reflection, a conversation starter, and an effort to build social awareness. One of the most striking manifestations of this crisis is the rapid melting of alpine glaciers. Scientists warn that by 2050, a significant portion could disappear. This phenomenon will reshape landscapes, threaten mountain ecosystems, and impact our environment by raising sea levels and limiting access to drinking water.
Creative Process
In creating "I Am Disappearing", ice blocks replaced traditionally used wooden molds. Under the high temperatures of molten glass, the ice gradually melted, each time forming a unique shape. This spatial record became a series of one-of-a-kind glass vases. The thermal shock from contact between hot glass and ice caused cracks on the surface of the blown pieces, which, after being reheated in the furnace, fused to form decorative patterns on the object walls. The process itself became an essential element of the "I Am Disappearing" project, symbolically illustrating what is irreversibly vanishing from our world.
"Textures from Nature"
"Textures from Nature" is an artistic project born from inspiration and respect for nature and the world around us—a tribute to its perfection, but also a reflection of the fear for its and our future.
This is yet another project addressing the issue of humanity's expansive activity, rapid climate changes, and their impact on our lives.
The artist continuously examines, explores, and analyzes the relationships and interdependencies between humanity and the natural world.
Her art, as the result and record of these efforts, carries not only an aesthetic value but also an ethical one. It inspires reflection, awareness, and engagement, becoming an important voice in matters that concern us all.
As part of the "Textures from Nature" series, objects with names such as Barren Land, Drought, Ash Heap, and Wild Hive were created, inspired by organic forms and structures found in nature.
On the surfaces of glass objects, organic textures have been imprinted through fire, serving as symbols of the increasingly palpable effects of climate change.
Fire, as an element of destruction and devastation, is simultaneously a medium of transformation and renewal. It carries the power and hope of creating something new.
Exhibitions
The artist actively presents her work on the international stage.
She has participated in 8 solo exhibitions in Poland, including “Point of Departure” at the Historical Museum - Castle of the Dukes of Sułkowski in Bielsko-Biała in 2021, as well as over 35 group exhibitions across Europe.
These include events in Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, and Italy as part of The Venice Glass Week.
