The Stained Glass Museum in Krakow

The Stained Glass Workshop and Museum in Krakow is a cultural institution that blends tradition with modernity, established on the foundation of the S.G. Żeleński Krakow Stained Glass Studio, founded in 1902. It is housed in a historic tenement building from 1906–1907, designed by Stanisław Gabriel Żeleński in collaboration with architect Ludwik Wojtyczko. The museum building captivates with its original decor, reflecting the atmosphere of a stained glass workshop from the turn of the century. Founded in 2004 by Piotr Ostrowski, the museum operates as a "living museum," where visitors can observe the live process of stained glass creation and explore both historical and contemporary works of art. The museum's collections include a rich archive of sketches, drawings, and completed projects, making it the most significant collection of stained glass art in Poland. The museum promotes contemporary art by organizing temporary exhibitions and popularizing Polish heritage, including the reconstruction of outstanding works such as Stanisław Wyspiański's stained glass "Apollo: Systems of the Chained," which was destroyed during World War II. Collaboration with leading artists of the Young Poland era, such as Wyspiański, Józef Mehoffer, and Henryk Uziembło, underscores the importance of this place in art history. The Stained Glass Workshop and Museum is a unique project that merges memories of the past with the current creativity of artists, preserving and revitalizing the stained glass tradition in Poland.