Bunkier’s history dates back to 1950.It was then that the Krakow branch of the CBWA (Central Bureau of Artistic Exhibitions) was established.

The Bunkier Building

The originator of the construction of the new Gallery headquarters was Bolesław Drobner, a member of parliament and a communist activist.He suggested that the area between Szewska 25 and Szczepańska 3 should be allocated for this purpose.Here, Bolesław Drobner’s father, Roman, opened an Art Nouveau café in 1907 that, after a turbulent history, fire, and multiple name changes, more than 50 years later, became Krakow’s first strip club, called “Esplanade”.In this area there was also an 18th-century granary, which in the end became integral to the new plan and can be seen to this day composed into the concrete.

Removal of fallen trees in the Planty Gardens on the corner of Szczepański Square in the 1920s.In the background, there is a cafe which was then called “Udziałowa” (photo from the National Digital Archive)

The new building was officially opened on 11 October, 1965.The architect was Krystyna Różyska-Tołłoczko, and the sculpting of the facade (imprinted concrete formwork) was designed by Stefan Borzęcki and Antoni Hajdecki.This building is unique – one of Poland’s few examples of brutalist architecture (the name “brutalism” has no connection with brutality, but comes from the French word “brut”, or “raw”).Its interesting location in the historical context is a beautiful example of successful late modernist architecture.Until the 1990s, the building was the only modern architectural building within Krakow’s Old Town.

The new Bunkier Sztuki building after opening; view of the section on the corner of Szczepański Square (photo from the Gallery’s archive)

For years, the gallery went under the name BWA.The name “Bunkier Sztuki” was only officially adopted in 1994.

More information and current programme are available on the official “Bunkier Sztuki” Gallery website.