Gosia Kołdraszewska, who studied at ESAD through the Erasmus+ programme, received a medal following her nomination for the Norwid Prize for the exhibition series Selfie Macht Frei, presented at Milosz Gallery, in London, and at ESAD. The project reflects a creative journey that brought together the artist’s international experience and the resources and support available at ESAD.

Selfie Macht Frei is a series of six prints exploring the contrast between visual representation and the reality of the contexts depicted. At first glance, the blurred silhouettes may suggest a joyful sense of togetherness, but the meaning of the images only becomes clear when viewed from a distance.

The artist’s connection with ESAD began during her Erasmus+ exchange semester last year. During this time, she worked with Catarina Lopes in the screen-printing workshop to print her work. The artist highlights the support and openness she encountered, recognising the role of this encounter in the development of the project and in her experience in Portugal. In her own words, this experience revealed how art can bring people and places together in unexpected ways.

ESAD’s workshops are spaces for experimentation and practical learning, where students can explore techniques, test materials and develop their projects with specialist guidance. This opportunity is also available to students welcomed through the Erasmus+ programme, encouraging knowledge-sharing and engagement with different creative processes.

The recognition of Selfie Macht Frei acknowledges Gosia Kołdraszewska’s work and highlights how academic experience, access to technical resources and collaboration can contribute to the development of artistic projects.