The Maria Pinińska-Bereś and Jerzy Bereś Foundation researches, promotes and takes care of the artistic legacy of Maria Pinińska-Bereś and Jerzy Bereś, one of the most important Polish avant-garde artists of the second half of the 20th century.
They were both sculptors and performers, but very quickly found their own, separate ways of artistic expression. Jerzy Bereś developed his idea of sculpture as an arrangement of pure shapes in space, constructing works of raw wood, stones, and ready-made objects. As early as 1967, he included performative actions, which he called manifestations, in his artistic expression. In his art, he was heavily involved in political and social problems, although its message was and is universal.
The work of Maria Pinińska-Bereś focused on the topics of femininity, sensuality and the position of women in society. She created soft and light sculptures, covered with a characteristic pink colour. She explored similar topics in her performance art, much more intimate and ephemeral than her husband’s. Her greatest actions were performed in nature.
The Maria Pinińska-Bereś and Jerzy Bereś Foundation implements her statutory goals through a number of activities related to the work of both artists: cooperating with important museums and cultural institutions organizes and co-organizes exhibitions, reenactments of performances, meetings and lectures devoted to the both artists. Researches the artists’ legacy in terms of the theory and history of art as well as issues related to the conservation of contemporary art, publishing results in specialised journals and books.
The Foundation carries out conservation of sculptures from the artist’s family collection or commissioned by external institutions, prepares archival, conservation and exhibition expertises, providing advice on issues related to conservation and exhibition. Popularizes the art of Jerzy Bereś and Maria Pinińska-Bereś in social media.
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The www.beresfoundation.pl webpage was created thanks to the funds from the “Digital Culture 2021” programme of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage