My story
I am a traveler, photographer, and collector of Polish goldsmithing art and ethnic jewelry.
Travel and Photography
I am a person full of energy, with an open heart and mind, always curious about others. Every journey, every conversation, every gesture is a potential story worth telling with a picture. It's in these small moments that a true human story lies, and I want to remember it and share it with others.
For me, photography is much more than just an image. It's a way of experiencing, interpreting, and understanding the world. When I hold a camera in my hand, I feel closer to another person, closer to the emotions, moments, and stories that make up everyday life. It's the person—their face, gesture, gaze—in the context of everyday life that constitutes the main subject of my photographs.
When I travel, I travel the world with my camera not to document places, but to meet people and tell their stories. Beautiful landscapes or extraordinary architecture often become merely a backdrop for what's most important—people. Every encounter brings something special, and I strive to capture these emotions in my photography.
Photography teaches me patience, mindfulness, humility, and openness. It gives me the opportunity to observe the world with greater awareness, to notice what's invisible at first glance, and to extract depth and beauty from seemingly ordinary situations. I believe that my sensitivity, keen observation, and warm approach to people make my photographs relatable, honest, and authentic.
For nearly twenty years, I have been organizing photography exhibitions, which I have had the pleasure of presenting both in art galleries and in public spaces. It's uplifting to be able to share my memories with a wide audience.
Every photograph tells a story about daily life that usually doesn't make it to the covers.
My Passion
My other great passion, which I have also linked my professional life with, is jewelry. It has accompanied me since 1981, when, together with my husband Michał and brother Krzysztof, we founded YES Jewelry – a company still small at the time, but with big dreams.
From the very beginning, our mission was to introduce jewelry to the Polish market that would be not only adornment but also a form of expression – beauty for everyday wear, and sometimes even a small work of art. Today, YES is a well-known and recognizable brand, and I proudly look back on our journey – from a small family business to one of the largest jewelry brands in Poland.
Although business has been and remains an important part of my life, I always knew I wanted to go a step further. I was fascinated by what happens at the intersection of jewelry and art. That's why, in 1998, I created the YES Gallery in Poznań. A unique space, entirely dedicated to Polish contemporary goldsmithing. It's the only non-commercial, private gallery of its kind in the country. From its inception, we have promoted the work of goldsmiths, educating, and demonstrating that jewelry can be a form of storytelling, a manifesto, a sign of the times.
Over time, I began building a collection of contemporary Polish artistic jewelry. Today, it is the largest of its kind in Poland. It encompasses works by artists from the post-war era to the latest designs. Here, I collect not only objects but, above all, ideas, emotions, and diverse approaches to jewelry making as an art form.
Simultaneously, I am developing a collection of ethnic jewelry. From each trip, I try to bring back a dozen, sometimes dozens, unique objects. I seek them out at markets, in villages, and most often among the people who wear or create them. For me, they're not just objects, but also stories about people, cultures, and traditions. Each piece tells something about the place it comes from, the person who wore it or created it. It can emphasize status, be a carrier of emotions passed down through generations, distinguish us from others, and even protect us from evil forces. In tribal structures, it plays a crucial role, clearly marking a person's position in the community. In our culture, it is primarily adornment, but at the same time, it carries a silent message about who we are.
This part of the collection is a unique travel diary, illustrated with jewelry.
Social Engagement
By pursuing my passions, I strive to share them and thus play a culture-building role.
By building the Collection of Contemporary Polish Goldsmithing, I support the artists and build a bridge of understanding between them and the audience. Jewelry is, after all, a unique language of artistic expression, one that isn't equally accessible to everyone.
I approach organizing photography exhibitions similarly. I'm committed to sharing memories from my travels. I also want to sensitize my audience to others and support them in building an attitude of acceptance of cultural differences.
My husband, Michał, and I also support Polish non-governmental organizations, and since 2014, we've been deeply involved with the school in Bakrang, Nepal. After the region suffered an earthquake, Sylwia Jędernalik and Maciej Pastwa, community activists from Poznań, decided to rebuild the school there, and we helped them financially. Today, the school bears my name, and we continue to support it, organizing
During one of the trips to Nepal, our hearts opened up to yet another school in need. It is run by the Tibetan doctor Tenging Bista in Lo Manthang, the capital of the Kingdom of Lo. It takes in the poorest children, often orphans, who learn herbal medicine, thus gaining a chance for a future. Amchi (Tibetan doctors), who treat people using herbs, are often the only doctors available to the local community. They make a diagnosis after examining the pulse and looking at the tongue.
However, the school's curriculum is designed to allow children to also learn general subjects, which opens the way for further education. The institution is maintained entirely by the generosity of donors, a group which my husband and I have also joined.
I walk through the world, leaving only a shadow.— Maria Magdalena Kwiatkiewicz
The people I meet leave
a mark on my life.