Goshka (Malgorzata) Bialek

Goshka Bialek, 2025.

Goshka Bialek is a British-Polish sculptor, educator and researcher. She was born and educated in Poland, receiving M.Sc. in Economics, specialising in Economic Cybernetics and Computer Science from the University of Warsaw (1985). In 1991, she moved to the UK and received BA (Hons), MA and PhD degrees in Fine Art in Sculpture and Glass and Ceramics from the University of Sunderland.

Her notable public sculptures include "Echo of the Past" (2002) which was displayed in the Neville Screen at Durham Cathedral, becoming the first artist since the 16th century allowed to do so. The exhibition was covered in various publications and by the BBC. In 2007, she was invited to 1st International Sculpture Symposium in Tehran and her sculpture “Reflection” is displayed in a public park in Tehran. In 2008, her sculpture and following exhibition “It’s My Place” was presented as part of the Edinburgh Festival. In 2013, her two sculptures “Ghost” and “Gnome” were exhibited at Durham Lumiere Festival of Light. In 2015 her installation “Crucifixion” was exhibited at the 6th Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art Parallel program.

Bialek was a Visiting Professor at S.G. Stroganov State Academy of Arts and Industry in Moscow (2014-2016), British School of Design in Moscow (2015-2016), at Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków (2006-2011), Wrocław 2007 and Hong Kong 2008.

Her art explores themes of truth and perception, encouraging viewers to engage with concepts of reality through both aesthetic and technological means. Bialek's practice spans a variety of materials, with a focus on transparent and translucent mediums. This allows her to explore the internal spaces of her sculptures, creating works that invite interaction with both form and light.

She is experimental in her work, being unprepared to let the seeming limitations of a medium constrain what she can achieve. Thanks to her broad education, she can use technology as a medium in her research in sculpture. This questioning approach, always searching for the underlying truth of what is possible technically, reflects her conceptual aesthetic of where “truth” lies. Her technological research was used by NASA to develop new aerogel applications. Bialek's work in sculpture incorporates both traditional and innovative materials, such as semi-transparent concrete and salvaged items. Her practice integrates artistic expression with technological research, often creating installations that challenge viewers' perceptions.

Early life and education

Bialek was born in Warsaw, Poland, on 10 October 1958. She holds M.Sc. in Economics, specialising in Economic Cybernetics and Computer Science, from the University of Warsaw (1985), BA (Hons, 2000) and MA (2003) in Fine Art in Sculpture and Applied Art in Glass and Ceramics, both from the University of Sunderland. In 2017, she was awarded PhD by the University of Sunderland for her dissertation "Inner Space in Sculpture: the Use of Metal Inclusions."

Personal life

Bialek lives and works in Durham (UK) but has lived in various cities, including Edinburgh, Warsaw, Moscow, and Durham. She is fluent in Polish, English and Russian. She is married to Professor Janusz Bialek (FIEEE).

Major works and exhibitions

Bialek’s exhibitions have been held internationally, showcasing both solo projects and participatory group shows. Notable exhibitions include:

• "Echo of the Past" – Displayed on the Neville Screen at Durham Cathedral, United Kingdom.
• "Crucifixion (Tolerance I)" – Initially exhibited in the temporary buildings of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, now permanently housed in its contemporary facilities in Moscow, Russia.
• "Inner Space in Sculpture II" – Held at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
• "Crucifixion" – Featured as part of the 6th Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, Russia.
• "National Icons" Exhibition – Shown at the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society & SGS, Trades House in Glasgow, Scotland.
• "It's My Place II" – A solo exhibition at the Old College, University of Edinburgh, exploring themes of identity and belonging.
• "Peaceful Relict" – Selected for an exhibition at Wells Cathedral, chosen from nearly 300 entries by leading artists.

Residencies

• Polish Sculpture Centre, Orońsko, Poland (August 2024) – Participated in a residency dedicated to advancing contemporary sculpture techniques and research.

Publications

• "Glass as a Fine Art Medium: Brief History and the Role of Adriano Berengo as a Fine Art Glass Impresario" – Arts 2022, 11(1), 19;
• "Entrapment within Inner Space: The Development and Review of Other Materials as Intentional Inclusions within Glass as a Creative Artistic Practice" – Arts 2021, 10(1), 5;

Lectures

Bialek has also contributed to discussions on glass as a fine art medium and has delivered lectures at many institutions worldwide, including:

• "Glass as a Fine Art Medium: History and Practice" – Delivered at the University of Hong Kong on November 7, 2024.
• "Glass—A Medium for Fine Art and Technology: Education, Cooperation, and Communication between Artists and Scientists" – Presented at Shandong University in Jinan, China, in September 2023.

Professional activities

• Artistic Director, First Polish Cultural Festival in Edinburgh (2008)
• Board Member of Scottish Glass Society (since 2021)
• Art Secretary and Mentor at University College, Durham University, United Kingdom (1994-2011)
• Vice Chairman of International Relations for the Warsaw Chapter of the Association of Polish Artists and Designers (APAD) and a member of the International Association of Art to UNESCO.

Achievements

Solo exhibitions and presentations
August, 2024	Exhibition and residency	Center of Polish Sculpture	Orońsko, Poland
March, 2024	Exhibition and residency	Various Colleges	Kenya and Uganda
September, 2023	Presentation	Fine Art Department, Tsinghua University	Beijing, China
September, 2023	Presentation	Glass and Ceramic Department, Tsinghua University	Beijing, China
September, 2023	Presentation	School of Fine Arts, Shandong University	Jinan, China
June, 2022	Presentations and residency	Fine Art Department, Glass and Ceramic, Universidade De Lisboa	Lisbon, Portugal
From 5 July 2019	Permanent Exhibition	Crucifixion (Tolerance II), Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology,	Moscow, Russia
September 2017	Exhibition	Inner Space in Sculpture II, Murray Edwards College, Cambridge University	Cambridge, U.K.
June 2017	Exhibition	Inner Space in Sculpture I, Sunderland University	Sunderland, U.K.
December 2015 – May 2019	Exhibition	Crucifixion (Tolerance I), Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology	Moscow, Russia
October 2015	Exhibition	Crucifixion 6th Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art	Moscow, Russia
May 2015	Presentation and workshop	The British School of Design	Moscow, Russia
April 2015	Presentation	Stroganov Academy of Art	Moscow, Russia
October 2014	Presentation	Irkuck Academy	Irkuck, Russia
March 2014	Exhibition	Crucifixion, Durham Castle	Durham, U.K.
February & July 2013	Exhibition and residency	City of London Academy	London, U.K.
April 2012	Presentation	Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile	Santiago, Chile
May 2011 – February 2016	Exhibition	Bede’s World	Jarrow, U.K.
August 2011	Presentation	Universidad de los Andes	Bogota, Colombia
21 June 2011	Presentation	AIR Salon at the BALTIC	Gateshead, U.K.
February – March 2010	Presentation	Wrocław Academy of Fine Arts	Wroclaw, Poland
December 2008	Presentation	Chinese University of Hong Kong	Hong Kong
March 2008	Exhibition and residency	Isleworth and Syon College	London, U.K.
October 2007	Exhibition	Academy of Fine Arts	Kraków, Poland
2000 – 2010	Annual exhibition	Durham Castle, Durham University	Durham, U.K.
2003	Exhibition	Ecce homo I!, National Glass Centre	Sunderland, U.K.
From September 2003	Exhibition	Frozen in time II, Durham Castle, Durham University	Durham, U.K.
August 2002 – February 2006	Exhibition	Echo of the Past, National Glass Centre	Sunderland, U.K.
June 2002 – 2003	Exhibition	Flock IV, Durham Castle, Durham University	Durham, U.K.
April 2002	Exhibition	Echo of the Past, a sculpture upon the Neville Screen, Durham Cathedral	Durham, U.K.
February 2002	Exhibition	Light-ning, British Embassy	Reykjavik, Iceland

Joint exhibitions
September 2023	Exhibition	“National Icons” Exhibition, the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society & SGS, Trades House	Glasgow, Scotland
August–September 2022	Exhibition	Summer Exhibition, the Scottish Glass Society	Glasgow, Scotland
July–August 2022	Exhibition	192nd RHA Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy	Dublin, Ireland
November 2021	Exhibition	Northumberland Open Exhibition, Wooler Arts	U.K.
July 2017	Exhibition	Association of Polish Artists, Sculpture Section	Warsaw, Poland
June – September 2016	Exhibition	Exhibition organized by the J.G. Stroganov Academy of Art	Moscow, Russia
April 2014	Exhibition	Exhibition organized by Sunderland University at Bede’s World	Jarrow, U.K.
February – March 2014	Exhibition	Exhibition of award-winning designs for the Ballet Dancers Monument competition, Galleria Freta	Warsaw, Poland
October 2013	Exhibition	Association of Polish Artists, Sculpture	Warsaw, Poland
August 2013	Exhibition	Grow!, Royal Botanic Garden	Edinburgh, U.K.
June – July 2013	Exhibition	Exhibition of award-winning designs for the Ballet Dancers Monument competition, Polish Ministry of Culture	Warsaw, Poland
November 2012 – May 2013	Exhibition	International exhibitions to support the Free Association of Syrian Expats	Warsaw, Poland; Cairo, Egypt; Alexandria, Egypt; and Dubai.
September – October 2012	Exhibition	Past shaped the Present, Art Center	Washington, U.K.
August – September 2012	Exhibition	Sculpture workshops and exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts	Warsaw, Poland
July – August 2012	Exhibition	Stourbridge International Festival, Gallery90 Plowden-Thompson	U.K.
March – April 2011	Exhibition	A Journey, Bede’s World	Jarrow, U.K.
May 2009	Exhibition	Scar exhibition, Art Space	Edinburgh, U.K.
May 2009	Exhibition	Shame Place, Saltmarket	Glasgow, U.K.
April 2009	Exhibition	Out of the Blue	Edinburgh, U.K.
July – August 2008	Exhibition	It’s my Place I, Craigmillar Art Space	Edinburgh, U.K.
July – August 2008	Exhibition	Razem, Rocket Venues, Edinburgh Art Festival	Edinburgh, U.K.
November 2007	Exhibition	The Place, St. Patrick’s Church	Glasgow, U.K.
February – March 2007	Exhibition	The First International Sculpture Symposium	Tehran, Iran
September – October 2006	Exhibition	Different ways to work with Concrete, an exhibition and International Conference, Fine Arts Academy	Krakow, Poland
April – May 2005	Exhibition	Glimmer	Leeds, U.K.
December 2003	Exhibition	Vetrospective, The Biscuit Factory	Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
June 2003	Exhibition	Crook Hall	Durham, U.K.
March 2003	Exhibition	Blast, Cork Street Gallery	London, U.K.
June – Sep 2002	Exhibition	NEWdirections, Shipley Art Gallery	Gateshead, U.K.
June – August 2002	Exhibition	Diversity, National Glass Centre	Sunderland, U.K.
September – October 2001	Exhibition	C-Through, The Chink in the Wall	North Lincolnshire, U.K.
2001 – 2003	Exhibition	The Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden	Surrey, U.K.
2000 – 2004	Exhibition	Alison Breeze Gallery Art Apartment	Knaresborough, U.K.
August – October 2000	Exhibition	Award Winners, National Glass Centre	Sunderland, U.K.
August – September 2000	Exhibition	Philips International Fine Art Auctioneers	Newcastle, U.K.

Commissions
2019	Sculpture	Mummy, Professor G. R. Boys-Stones, donated to Durham University	Durham, U.K.
2016	Installation	Crucifixion, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology	Moscow, Russia
2014	Installation	The Mechanism of Celebrity, City of London Academy	London, U.K.
2013	Installation	Lumiere, Durham University	Durham, U.K.
2013	Sculpture	Untitled, Hempel Metals Ltd	Reading, U.K.
2012	Sculpture	Frozen in Time, Durham Castle, Durham University	Durham, U.K.
2009	Installation	Flock II, Consulate of the Republic of Poland	Edinburgh, U.K.
2009	Installation	Flock III, Shopping Centre Outlet Factory, Lubon	Poznan, Poland
2008	Installation	The Mechanism of Celebrity II, Craigmillar Art Space	Edinburgh, U.K.
2008	Installation	The Mechanism of Celebrity I, Isleworth and Syon College	London, U.K.
2007	Sculpture	Reflection, Ministry of Culture	Tehran, Iran
2006	Sculpture	Hammock, Polish Concrete Ltd	Krakow, Poland
2002	Sculpture	Untitled, Bishop Barrington School	Bishop Auckland, U.K.
2002	Sculpture	T-shirts, King James I Community College	Bishop Auckland, U.K.
2001	Sculpture	Untitled, Staindrop Comprehensive School	Staindrop, U.K.

Awards
2015	Winner	Winner of the Creative Glass Guild Awards	U.K.
2013	Award	Award for a design for the Ballet Dancer Monument competition, Foksal Gallery and the Association of Polish Artists	Warsaw, Poland
2000	Shortlisted	The Guardian Award, New Designers	U.K.

External links

• Official Website: https://goshkabialek.pl/
• Professional Profile: LinkedIn – Goshka Bialek
• APAD Profile: Association of Polish Artists and Designers
• Research Gate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Goshka-Bialek
• ArtFacts Profile: https://artfacts.net/artist/goshka-bialek/851933