MELBA Festival presents a special exhibition dedicated to the legendary Polish graphic designer Karol Śliwka. The exhibition features 20 carefully selected posters from his prolific body of work. Recognized as a master of the logo, Śliwka transformed the symbol into the central language of his art. The selected works reveal the power of simple form and the elegance with which he conveyed universal messages through a clear and memorable visual language.

Karol Śliwka (1932–2018) is among the most emblematic Polish graphic designers, leaving a lasting mark on the country’s cultural memory. Born in Harbutowice, he graduated in painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw but soon found his true path in graphic design. His major breakthrough came in 1957, when he won first prize in a national competition for cigarette package design. From that point onward, Śliwka developed an active career creating posters, packaging, postage stamps, and book covers – shaping the visual landscape of everyday life in Poland.

His name is most closely associated with logos – over 400 of them – including the emblems of the Institute of Mother and Child, the National Library, and numerous factories and publishing houses. With his clean, human-centered, and memorable style, he demonstrated how a simple sign can carry universal symbolism and profound meaning. Awarded the Gold Medal at the Katowice Poster Biennale in 1969, Karol Śliwka became a symbol of excellence and of the social relevance of graphic design. His work continues to inspire new generations of designers and serves as a reminder that the true power of design lies in its simplicity and accessibility.

The exhibition is curated by Patryk Hardziej and organized in collaboration with the Karol Śliwka Foundation and the Polish Institute in Sofia.