Pilecki Institute NYC

05/27/2026

The New Voice of Ukraine

Works by 10 Ukrainian artists are being presented at Modern Freedom, a major international exhibition in New York featuring contemporary artists from Central and Eastern Europe.

05/26/2026

One week ago, Pilecki Institute USA opened “MODEERN FREEDOM” in Lower Manhattan.

This major international exhibition brings together art from Poland and Central and Eastern Europe, presenting a wide range of artists, works, histories, and perspectives connected to memory, culture, and the meaning of freedom today.

The opening reception marked an important moment for our institution, our partners, the artists, the curators, and everyone involved in bringing this project to New York.

We extend our sincere thanks to all guests who joined us, and to the artists, curators, partners, team members, and friends of the Institute whose support and commitment made “MODEERN FREEDOM” possible.

Curated by Piotr Franaszek, Tomáš Koudela, and Wojtek Radtke.

“MODEERN FREEDOM” is now open and on view through August 31, 2026.

Pilecki Institute USA
92 Greenwich Street, Lower Manhattan, New York

Co-financed by the Polish National Foundation.

05/25/2026

“I tried to live in such a way that, in the face of death, I would feel joy rather than fear” — Witold Pilecki.

On May 25, 1948, Witold Pilecki was executed by the communist authorities. His crime: loyalty to a free Poland.

Pilecki’s story remains one of the most extraordinary acts of courage in modern history. A soldier, resistance fighter, Warsaw Uprising participant, and member of the anti-communist underground, he voluntarily allowed himself to be imprisoned in Auschwitz. There, he organized a resistance network and smuggled out some of the first reports exposing the horrors of N**i crimes.

After surviving Auschwitz and fighting for freedom during the war, Pilecki became a victim of another totalitarian system. Arrested by the communist regime, tortured, and subjected to a show trial based on fabricated charges, he was sentenced to death.

The regime sought not only to kill him, but to erase him from history. For decades, his name and story were suppressed, and his family suffered persecution. To this day, the exact place of his burial remains unknown.

Yet the truth survived.

In 2019, the European Parliament declared May 25 — the anniversary of Witold Pilecki’s death — the International Day of Heroes of the Fight Against Totalitarianism.

05/21/2026

"MODEERN FREEDOM" has been featured by Mezha, highlighting the powerful presence of Ukrainian artists in the exhibition.

"Exhibition "MODEERN FREEDOM" gathers Ukrainian creators whose works confront war, loss and dignity, offering intimate perspectives across multiple media.

Among the works presented are the project “Palyanytsia” by Zhanna Kadirova, the audiovisual installation “Explosions Near the Museum” by Yarema Malashchuk and Roman Khimey, the kinetic installation by Serhiy Petliuk “When the Fog Disperses,” the textile work “Mara” by Dasha Chechushkova, a series of canvases by Kristina Melnyk and Nataliya Lisova, as well as other works devoted to the themes of war, memory, loss of home, and preserving human dignity,"

Their voices are an essential part of "MODEERN FREEDOM" and of a broader conversation about how art responds to conflict, trauma, and the realities of our time.

Pilecki Institute USA
92 Greenwich Street, Lower Manhattan, New York

On view through August 31, 2026

The exhibition is organized by the Pilecki Institute and the Ostravská univerzita and co-financed by the Polska Fundacja Narodowa.

A fragment of the Ukrainian exposition at the Modern Freedom exhibition in New York, May 2026, photo provided by the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation A New York exhibition gathers Ukrainian creators whose works confront war, loss and dignity, offering intimate perspectives across multiple media. As reported b...

05/21/2026

MODEERN FREEDOM — a major exhibition of contemporary art from Poland and Central and Eastern Europe — features approximately 100 paintings, prints, sculptures, installations, and films by artists from across the region.

Reflecting on memory, trauma, courage, and the meaning of freedom in the contemporary world, MODEERN FREEDOM explores how experiences of war, totalitarianism, and social transformation continue to shape identity and culture across generations.

As Piotr Franaszek, CEO of Pilecki Institute USA and one of the exhibition’s curators, said in his conversation with the Polish Press Agency:

"We do not present Central and Eastern Europe as a periphery. We present it as a place where one of the most important languages of our time was born: the language of memory, resistance, and freedom."

The article also highlights several artists and works featured in the exhibition, including Chris Niedenthal’s iconic photograph Czas Apokalipsy, the diptych Twins by Czech artist Jiří Surůvka, and the work of Ukrainian artist Serhij Petliuk, who addresses the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine through an installation resembling watchtowers, from which fragments of human bodies are projected.

Pilecki Institute USA
92 Greenwich Street, Lower Manhattan, New York, NY

On view through August 31, 2026

The exhibition is organized by the Pilecki Institute and the Ostravská univerzita and co-financed by the Polska Fundacja Narodowa.

Read the full article:

W nowojorskim oddziale Instytutu Pileckiego odbył się wernisaż wystawy sztuki współczesnej „Modeern Freedom”, prezentującej twórczość artystów z Polski i innych krajów Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej. Pilecki Institute NYC przygotował ekspozycję.

05/20/2026

Yesterday evening, Pilecki Institute USA opened “MODEERN FREEDOM” in Lower Manhattan — a major exhibition of art from Poland and Central and Eastern Europe, bringing together artists whose works reflect on memory, history, totalitarian experience, democracy, and the meaning of freedom today.

It was an important evening for our institution, our partners, the artists, the curators, and everyone who helped bring this project to New York.

Thank you to all guests who joined us for the opening reception and shared this moment with us. Your presence made the evening truly special.

We are grateful to the artists, curators, partners, team members, and friends of the Institute whose work, trust, and commitment made this exhibition possible.

Curated by Piotr Franaszek, Tomáš Koudela, and Wojtek Radtke.

“MODEERN FREEDOM” is now open and on view through August 31, 2026.

Pilecki Institute USA
92 Greenwich Street, Lower Manhattan, New York

Photos: Wojtek Kubik

Co-financed by the Polish National Foundation Polska Fundacja Narodowa

05/19/2026

Wojtek Radtke, artist and co-curator of “MODEERN FREEDOM,” invites to the exhibition at Pilecki Institute USA in New York.

Working across visual art, installation, object, and spatial forms, Radtke’s practice engages with memory, identity, social experience, and the question of freedom as both an artistic and human condition.

Presented in Lower Manhattan, “MODEERN FREEDOM” brings together art from Poland and Central and Eastern Europe in a reflection on history, totalitarian experience, democracy, and freedom today.

Pilecki Institute USA
92 Greenwich Street, New York City

Exhibition Opening: May 19, 2026, at 6:00PM

On view May 19 – August 31, 2026

Co-financed by the Polish National Foundation/ Polska Fundacja Narodowa

05/19/2026

Dariusz Fodczuk, one of Poland’s most recognized performance artists, invites you to discover “MODEERN FREEDOM.

A visual artist, performer, educator, and curator, Fodczuk works across performance, sculpture, painting, video, and experimental media. His artistic practice explores the dynamic relationship between artist, audience, and artwork, often challenging traditional boundaries of participation, presence, and artistic experience.

Presented at Pilecki Institute USA in New York, “MODEERN FREEDOM” brings together artists from Poland and across Central and Eastern Europe in a powerful reflection on memory, history, totalitarian experience, democracy, and the meaning of freedom today.

Pilecki Institute USA
92 Greenwich Street, New York City

Exhibition Opening: May 19, 2026, at 6:00PM

On view May 19 – August 31, 2026

Co-financed by the Polish National Foundation/ Polska Fundacja Narodowa

05/19/2026

Join us today at 6:00 PM for the opening reception of “MODEERN FREEDOM” at Pilecki Institute USA at 92 Greenwich Street in Lower Manhattan.

“MODEERN FREEDOM” brings together art from Poland and Central and Eastern Europe in a major exhibition reflecting on memory, history, totalitarian experience, democracy, and the meaning of freedom today.

The exhibition features established artists and younger voices from across the region, with works spanning painting, sculpture, installation, drawing, film, performance, photography, and text.

Organized around the curatorial framework of Memory / Tremor / Freedom.

Curated by Piotr Franaszek, Tomáš Koudela, and Wojtek Radtke.

Opening reception: May 19, 2026, 6:00 PM
On view: May 19 – August 31, 2026
Pilecki Institute USA
92 Greenwich Street, Lower Manhattan, New York

Co-financed by the Polish National Foundation/ Polska Fundacja Narodowa