Experience Ursula von Rydingsvard's Monumental Sculptures at Royal Łazienki Museum

This exhibition at the Royal Łazienki Museum features two monumental sculptures by acclaimed American artist Ursula von Rydingsvard. The works, "Elegantka II" and "For Natasha," showcase her unique ability to create poetic forms from materials like polyurethane resin and cedar wood, blending medieval craftsmanship with modern abstract art.

The Royal Łazienki Museum presents "Ursula von Rydingsvard. Nothing but Art," an exhibition highlighting the work of one of America's most recognized sculptors. The display features two significant pieces: "Elegantka II," a polyurethane resin sculpture illuminated from within and placed on the lawn near the Old Orangery, and "For Natasha," a large-scale work crafted from cedar wood and displayed inside the Old Orangery. Ursula von Rydingsvard is renowned for her monumental sculptures that impress with their dynamism and poetic quality, often created from cedar wood, her primary material. Her artistic process merges the precision of medieval craftsmanship with modern abstract art, resulting in unique and powerful forms. "Elegantka II" is described as a robust, gently twisting column that expands towards its apex, with a surface texture that shifts from carved to jagged to undulating, gaining a glow from its internal light. "For Natasha," made in 2015, exemplifies her characteristic use of cedar wood, a material she found suitable for large-scale constructions due to its softness and workability. Her creative process is labor-intensive, involving assembling and cutting large wooden pieces, often working directly with the material intuitively. This exhibition is part of a larger presentation of Rydingsvard's art in Poland, a collaboration with the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko and the National Museum in Kraków. The artist draws inspiration from her biography, including her family's experiences during World War II and their emigration to the United States, which imbues her works with emotional depth and echoes of her Central European heritage. Her artistic philosophy is influenced by figures like Mark Rothko and Wassily Kandinsky, and she has developed an original art formula that positions her among the great artists of the 20th century and beyond.

Access to "For Natasha" inside the Old Orangery requires a pass to all museum facilities. The combined ticket costs 40 zlotys for a normal ticket and 20 zlotys for a reduced ticket. The Old Orangery is open Tuesday-Thursday from 10:00 to 16:00, Friday-Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, and Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00. "Elegantka II" is displayed on the lawn next to the Old Orangery and is accessible during garden opening hours (Monday-Sunday, 6:00-20:00).