Bardzo Ladnie Foundation would like to invite you for this discussion exploring the importance of children’s book illustration. We will do so by taking a closer look at Polish Children’s Book Illustration; in its historical context and how it benchmarks against Irish contemporary illustration.

Polish Children’s Book Illustration is making waves internationally. Books like Maps by Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielińscy or Bees: Honeyed History by Piotr Socha are not just available internationally, but making best-seller lists around the world. Polish illustration is regularly recognised at The Bologna Children’s Book Fair – the most important international event dedicated to the children’s publishing and multimedia industry.

The discussion will be led by Margaret Anne Suggs- an award-winning illustrator of Pigin of Howth and a Director of IBBY Ireland. Margaret Anne will unravel for us the world of Polish Children’s Book Illustration, together with art historian and critic Anita Wincencjusz-Patyna, who is an author of many publications on the topic and a member of the Polish Section of IBBY.

During the evening we will also have a guest appearance from Aga Grandowicz – a Polish illustrator and author of the acclaimed Dr Hibernica Finch’s Compelling Compendium of Irish Animals. She will share with us the secrets of her practice and her path to becoming an award-winning illustrator.

To join the webinar register at:
https://bardzoladniengo.clickmeeting.com/polish…/register

SPEAKERS:

Anita Wincencjusz-Patyna
Art historian and critic, the doctor in art sciences. Assistant professor at The Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław, Head of the Art History and Philosophy Department. She collaborates with the Biennial of Illustration in Bratislava, Slovakia, City Gallery in Wrocław, The Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in Gdańsk, Bunkier Sztuki Gallery in Krakow and other cultural institutions. Member of Polish Section of IBBY. President of the jury of „Book of the Year” national contest, Warsaw (graphic section). President of the jury of „Dobre Strony” [Good Pages] and “Pióro Fredry” [Fredro’s Pen] book competitions in Wrocław, and a jury member of the international Picture Book Quadriennale „Picture Story” in Riga, Latvia. Author of Stacja Ilustracja: Polska ilustracja książkowa 1950-1980 (2008), Odpowiedni dać rzeczy obraz: O genezie ilustracji książkowych (2019), co-author of Look! Polish Picturebook (2016), and editor-in-chief of Captains of Illustration: 100 Years of Children’s Books from Poland (2019). She has written numerous papers and articles not only about book illustration but also on contemporary Polish art.

Margaret Anne Suggs
Margaret Anne was raised in the American Deep South and moved to Dublin to study at NCAD. Being a dual citizen has given her illustrations a cheerful colour palette and distinct femininity. She was recently awarded an Arts Council Bursary for her illustration work on #IRememberBeingAChild. Margaret Anne serves as a Director for both Illustrators Ireland and IBBYIreland. She lectures part-time at BCFE, where she founded the illustration course. Mags is the illustrator for the best-selling, award-winning Pigin of Howth series and the third in the series, Pigin’s Unexpected Adventure (Kathleen Watkins, Gill), is available now. Her most recent book is Holy Shocking Saints with Sine Quinn (Veritas). The highly illustrated Holy Shocking Saints is a spirited look at the lives of Irish Saints whose stories are a unique blend of Irish Folklore, Celtic Myth and Ancient Christianity.

Aga Grandowicz
Aga Grandowicz is a multi-award winning art director, graphic designer and wildlife illustrator. She studied graphic design, graphic art, fine arts and traditional photography in ASP Gdansk (Academy of Fine Arts Gdansk). Shortly after completing her masters in 2003, with the highest honours, she set up her graphic design practice and started working for a large variety of Polish businesses. In 2006, in search of adventure and inspiration, Aga has moved to Ireland where she still lives and works – despite the fact she planned to stay here for only one year. Aga is the owner of a boutique graphic design agency in Dublin (agrand.ie) helping various businesses communicate their offerings. Outside of work, she switches off and escapes by drawing furry animals and old trees. Her first book created together with Rob Maguire, ‘Dr Hibernica Finch’s Compelling Compendium of Irish Animals’ (published by Little Island in 2018) was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards 2018, Literacy Ireland Children’s Book Award 2019, and won Aga the Honour Award for Illustration in CBI’s Book of the Year Award 2019. Since the book’s publication, Aga has been involved in working on biodiversity- related projects – contributing to them with her design and illustration skills, and now she works towards making it her new career path.