Poster Museum at Wilanów: World's First Dedicated Poster Museum

The Poster Museum in Wilanów was established in 1968. Its founding was influenced by a growing interest in poster art and annual poster competitions in Warsaw.

Opened in June 1968, the Poster Museum in Wilanów holds the distinction of being the world's first museum dedicated to poster art.

Upon its founding, the museum possessed 13,000 items, which included approximately 500 posters dating back to the World War II era.

The museum is situated within a modern exhibition facility constructed behind the historic Wilanów Palace, specifically within a 19th-century riding school.

The museum's collection continues to expand, largely due to gifts received from both Polish and international donors.

The Poster Museum at Wilanów holds a significant collection, comprising more than 55,000 posters, with 30,000 items specifically detailing Polish poster art history from 1892 to 2002.

The International Poster Biennale, which began in 1966, found its permanent home at the museum in 1994 and continues to be held there biannually.

The International Poster Biennale, launched in 1966 and now hosted by the museum, holds the distinction of being the world's inaugural poster biennale.

In 2016, the 25th International Poster Biennale celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special exhibition, '50/50/50', featuring fifty prominent artists whose works were displayed in city light boxes.