Raffles 1887

A curator’s day… with the resident Art Collection Manager at Raffles Europejski Warsaw

Łukasz Godlewski is curator of the Hotel Europejski Art Collection, one of the most significant private collections of contemporary Polish art in the world, from post-1945 masters to today’s emerging voices. A licensed Warsaw guide and proud Varsovian, Łukasz offers inspiring private tours that blend personal history, heritage and storytelling. Here he considers how a typical day might unfold.

9:00am

My work primarily involves representing the exceptional art collection housed within our hotel. Each day, I meet guests who wish to understand Polish contemporary art and have a wonderful opportunity to do so here, as the collection features close to 500 works by more than 120 outstanding Polish artists – all intended to be permanently on display.

An art tour is typically a one-hour walk through the hotel, discovering installations, paintings, photographs, posters, graphics, sculptures, collages, drawings, blown glass, design pieces and handcrafted works. Each piece of original art is thoughtfully placed to imbue a space with its own unique character, from the lobby and the Long Bar to all 106 rooms and suites. We visit some of these on the tour, as well as exploring hidden corners of the building. I help guests interpret works that may seem enigmatic at first glance. The meeting is informal and often evolves into a lively conversation about art, and an inspiring exchange of ideas.

11:00am

Sometimes we are visited by students from the nearby Academy of Fine Arts, architecture students and Warsaw’s senior residents involved in local cultural programmes. I meet these groups personally to explain how our collection offers a deep insight into what has shaped Polish art from the postwar period to the present day. It goes far beyond trends; it reflects artists’ unique sensitivity to the world around them. Their works capture fascinations and dreams, but also fears and difficult experiences, mirroring the socio-political realities in which they were created. What’s fascinating is how Polish artists remained aware of global movements while developing their own distinctive voices. The inclusion of young artists adds a refreshing dimension – sometimes playful or unexpected, yet always highlighting the diversity of media and ideas that define the youngest generation.

Many pieces were created between 2013 and 2017, when the collection itself was actually being built – effectively capturing the most current expressions of Polish art. But there are earlier works too, such as experimental photography from the 1950s, post-war posters from the renowned ‘Polish School of Posters’, abstract paintings from the 1970s and critical art from the 1990s by artists essential to any discussion of Polish contemporary art.

1.00pm

Although my main goal is to help guests understand Polish art and its context, equally important is sharing the extraordinary history of our hotel, located on Warsaw’s Royal Route. Through its story, guests can also discover the city’s layered history, gaining a deeper appreciation for both Polish culture and the place they’ve chosen for their stay. As a licensed guide for Warsaw and the Royal Castle, I sometimes accompany guests on city tours, often with an emphasis on art and architecture. These experiences provide a broader cultural context for what visitors see in our hotel. Guests will join me outside the hotel to visit leading Warsaw galleries and cultural institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, which opened its long-awaited permanent home in 2024.

3.00pm

Monitoring the condition of each artwork is one of my key responsibilities. I assess their state and recommend any necessary conservation work. I personally oversee smaller projects, such as replacing frames or protective glass, while for more complex cases, we collaborate with a distinguished conservator from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw.

5:00pm

I’m in regular contact with many artists represented in our collection. They often visit to show their works to clients, families or friends, and we’re frequently invited to their exhibitions in Warsaw galleries. From time to time, we host public art talks with these artists, inviting local residents to join. Much of the collection represents the second decade of the 21st century and we hope that, in time, art historians will study it as a snapshot of Polish art from that era.

Raffles Curators are to be found – in different guises – in many Raffles destinations, fostering authentic connection between guests and communities through their skills and knowledge.