Olga Budzan

An artist and educator specialising in embroidery (white embroidery, folk embroidery, cross-stitch), bobbin lace and the reconstruction of traditional crafts of Lower Silesia. In her practice, she combines creation with teaching, conducting workshops during which she passes on craft techniques and builds a community around joint activities.

With ties to Lower Silesia, she draws inspiration from the region’s multicultural heritage and craft traditions. Her work at the Ethnographic Museum in Wrocław encourages her to explore old, forgotten techniques and reflect on their contemporary potential. She is interested in the clash between old methods and modern ideas – how crafts, once used solely for decoration, can today become a tool for social and political commentary.

In her work, she pays particular attention to ‘feminine’ techniques such as embroidery and lace-making, which today are becoming a form of expression of identity, sensitivity and views. In her educational work, she emphasises the creation of a safe, supportive space – a place where everyone, regardless of their skills, can feel like a creator.

As part of MagiC Carpets, Olga Budzan is working on a project called ‘Barbara 1965–2025,’ which will culminate in the joint creation of a fabric commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Barbara café, a meeting place in the centre of Wrocław run by the Wrocław Institute of Culture. The participants of the project, while learning embroidery and sewing, will also work with iconography related to the history of the building and the people associated with it.