_ THE IDEA

Adrian Wykrota and Mariusz Forecki – documentary photographers associated with ZPAF Wielkopolska District, acting within Łazarz – Open Culture Zone, with the support of the Culture Department of the Poznań City Hall, created a place for photography PIX.HOUSE.

The initiative “YES TO A PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY IN POZNAŃ” on Facebook was supported by over 5,000 people. It was thanks to the support of the local community that dreams turned into tangible actions.

The organizers of the campaign managed to find and rent a place for the activity from the Municipal Housing Resources Board. The premises, which required a thorough renovation, were awarded to PIX.HOUSE on preferential terms.

In the space that once housed the EROTICA video rental shop, photography has now found its place…

The place for photography before renovation:

_ GOAL

Our main goal is to create an open place on the cultural map of Poznań, a meeting place for everyone – the local community, photography enthusiasts, amateur photographers, supporters of culture and cultural events, as well as artists from Poznań, all of Poland and other countries.

_ INTEGRATION

Our activities are based on close contact between the local community of Poznań and tourists who come to our city with the art of photography in the following ways: open, direct and free.

On March 13, 2015 at 1:13 p.m. the first joint exhibition entitled "Transformation - Start" took place.

_ YES | let's build a place for photography together

In April, we launched a fundraising campaign for the renovation of PIX.HOUSE.

A month-long campaign on the Polak Potrafi platform ended successfully. Patrons of the photography space achieved 149% of the goal.

The money collected made it possible to finance a large part of the renovation.

We built this place together.

_ INAUGURATION OF THE ACTIVITY OF A PLACE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION "GENERATION 74"

On July 15, 2015, right after the renovation of the PIX.HOUSE gallery, we presented an international exhibition of documentary photography, combined with the Polish premiere of the book "Generation 74" with numerous meetings, discussions and lectures.

We showcased the works of renowned documentary photographers from across Europe. The exhibition featured: Simon Roberts (UK), Nick Hannes (Belgium), Kirill Golovchenko (Ukraine/Germany), Przemysław Pokrycki (Poland), Tomáš Pospěch (Czech Republic), Mindaugas Kavaliauskas (Lithuania), Vitus Saloshanka (Belarus/Germany), Gintaras Česonis (Lithuania), Borut Peterlin (Slovenia), Pekka Niittyvirta (Finland), and Davide Monteleone (Italy).

A meeting was held with the exhibition's curator and photographer Mindaugas Kavaliauskas, as well as Kirill Golovchenko, the recipient of the 2014 European Publishers Award for Photography (EPAP).

The following days featured meetings with Maciej Frąckowiak discussing the "Invisible City" project, Władysław Nielipiński (WBICAK), Grzegorz Kosmala (doc! magazine), as well as photographers Piotr Małecki and Jacek Piotrowski.

_ OUR ACTIONS

■ Multimedia exhibitions showcasing the best Polish and international photographers ■ Exhibitions by emerging creators ■ Reading room – the finest photography albums (often unavailable in bookstores) accompanied by delicious coffee and relaxing music ■ Author talks and meet-the-artist sessions ■ Photography workshops for children, teens, and adults ■ Portfolio reviews ■ Slide shows, photography films, and multimedia content (photocasts, multimedia presentations, interactive albums) ■ Outdoor initiatives – open-air exhibitions and public photo screenings ■ Community archive – an interactive archive documenting the Łazarz district, Poznań, and the Greater Poland region ■ Photography contests

_ The creators of PIX.HOUSE:

Adrian Wykrota

www.adrianwykrota.com

Member of ZPAF. Photojournalist of Głos Wielkopolski.
An English philologist and cultural studies graduate (specializing in media studies). Author of the blog about documentary photography and reportage, "Co z tą fotografią" ("What's with Photography"). Participant in prestigious Magnum Photos workshops and recognized by Magnum Photos as one of the 30 best young photographers worldwide. Winner of numerous photography competitions, including Top 30 Under 30 Magnum Photos, IPA, Grand Press Photo, BZWBK Press Photo, Lumix Festival, Leica Street Photo, and Wielkopolska Press Photo. His work has been exhibited in Poland, Germany, England, Lithuania, and Bangladesh. Recipient of the Marshal of the Greater Poland Voivodeship Scholarship and the Young Creators Scholarship for the artistic community of Poznań, awarded by the Poznań City Council.

… 

Mariusz Forecki

 www.forecki.pl

He documents the changes occurring in Poland after 1989 and is the author of numerous photographic exhibitions on social themes. His work has been featured in prestigious events such as the Noorderlicht Festival in the Netherlands, the Prague Biennale of Photography, the Month of Photography in Bratislava, and the Photography Biennale in Poznań. Recognized for his creative achievements by the Association of Polish Art Photographers (ZPAF), he is also the founder of *5shots*, a publishing house dedicated to photographic albums designed for tablets. Winner of the 2010 Poznań City Art Award, he is the author of books including *I LOVE POLAND*, *POZNAŃ – CULTURE FOR ALL SEASONS*, and *KOLEKCJA WRZESIŃSKA 2011*. A graduate of the Institute of Creative Photography at the Silesian University in Opava (Czech Republic).

… 

Andrzej Dobosz

 www.dobosch.com

Designer. Photographer. Documentarian. Member of ZPAF. Co-founder of the Poznań-based photography group Streetm, with a focus on social documentary photography. A multiple award winner in contests such as Wielkopolska Press Photo, Moja Wielkopolska, and BZWBK Press Photo. Co-founder and long-time art director of Chigo Studio. Since 2000, he has been engaged in various aspects of graphic design, specializing in brand identity creation and developing visual communication systems. Aesthetic architect, constantly seeking balance between market demands and visual culture in his work. He has collaborated on numerous creative projects for some of the most renowned and demanding brands.