Katarzyna Zimna graduated from the Faculty of Graphics and Painting and the Faculty of Visual Education at the Strzeminski Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz (diplomas with honours, 2002 and 2004). She completed her PhD in 2010 at the Loughborough University School of Art and Design (UK), with the research about play as a concept in aesthetics and creative strategy in modern and postmodern art. Habilitation in fine arts at the Faculty of Graphics and Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz in 2019. Author of the book Time to Play: Action and Interaction in Contemporary Art (I.B. Tauris 2014/ Bloomsbury 2020). Between 2003-2013 she cooperated with educational publishing houses as an illustrator and graphic designer. She has participated in numerous group and juried exhibitions in Poland and abroad and has authored several solo shows. Twice awarded a fully-funded residency at Frans Masereel Graphic Centre in Kasterlee, Belgium. Participant in the Impact International Printmaking Conferences (Bristol 2009, Hangzhou, 2015, Santander 2018, Hong Kong 2021, Bristol 2022). Winner of the Honorary Medal of the International Triennial of Small Graphic Forms (Lodz-Poland 2020).
Since 2011, she has been employed at the Institute, currently as an associate professor (research and teaching). The main area of her practice is related to printmaking, treated as a starting point for explorations in the fields of object art, textile, video and activities with the participation of the viewer. Apart from theoretical and practical issues related to the medium of artistic graphics, her research interests include the theory of games and play, methods of creative problem solving and eco design, especially with the use of innovative materials.
As part of didactic work, she teaches printmaking, experimental graphics, illustration and design methods classes at the first and second degree studies of design and industrial design engineering. Supervisor of diploma theses, related to illustration, editorial graphics and product design. Co-creator and curator of the Jutro Gallery and coordinator of the Erasmus+ and Ceepus programs. Member of the board of the industrial design engineering study programme and the diploma commission of design and industrial design engineering study programmes.
Artistic and academic portfolio: www.kasiazimna.net
