Marcela Paniak – photographer focused on photographic archives. Doctor of art and graduate of Photography at the Film School in Łódź, where she also teaches Archival photography. Co-founder of the Viva Archiva! Foundation dedicated to the creative uses of photographic and film archives. Member of the Łódź Photographic Society and of the Association of Polish Art Photographers. In her own photographic work, she focuses on topics such as archives, memory, history, identity and photography itself. Under her officially changed name and surname, she ran a project exploring the identity of family photography and her own – and, above all, the truth and falsity of their presence. She shaped her passion and professional path in photographic archives through work in institutional archives, including the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute in Warsaw, as well as in foundation and community archives. Scholarship holder of the Minister of Science and Higher Education. A Polish woman nominated in the international photography festival “Les Rencontres d’Arles”, maintaining contacts with the creative community in Paris and throughout France.
(2026, Łódź, Poland)
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Foundation
2024–… – Founder of the Viva Archiva! Foundation
Education
2016–2020 – Doctoral Studies, Film School in Łódź (2023 – Doctor of Arts)
2014–2017 – French Studies, University of Łódź (2017 – Bachelor’s Degree)
2010–2015 – Photography Studies, Film School in Łódź (2016 – Master of Arts)
Teaching
2025–… – Author’s School of Photography
2023–… – Film School in Łódź
2023–2025 – Warsaw School of Photography
2021–2023 – Photography Programme of the Association of Polish Art Photographers
Archival Work
2024–… – Andrzej Różycki Photosophical Archive
2024–… – Krzysztof Kieślowski Archive
2021–2023 – Di Factory
2018–2021 – National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute
Social Engagement and Projects
2017–… – Engagement in the network of community archives in Poland
2017–… – Development and implementation of community projects involving photographic archives
Memberships
2012–… – Association of Polish Art Photographers
2009–… – Łódź Photographic Society
Exhibitions and Publications
2010–… – Photography exhibitions in Poland and abroad
2010–… – Photographic publications in Poland and abroad
2020–… – Author of texts on photography
2020–2025 – Co-editor of “Ton”, the photography magazine of the Film School in Łódź
Scholarships and Awards
2019 – Winner of the Polish final of the French competition “Ma thèse en 180 secondes”
2014–2015 – Scholarship holder of the Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education
2013 – Nominee for the “Prix Découverte” at Les Rencontres d’Arles photography festival, France