Supervisor in the Doctoral School

Biographical note: Michał Staszczak (born 1979) – a graduate of sculpture at the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław (Poland). Diploma in 2005 in the studio of prof. Leon Podsiadły, an annex from a small sculptural form in the studio of prof. Jacek Dworski. Since 2006, he has been employed at his alma mater, where he currently runs a foundry studio. In 2019, he obtained the title of associate professor. In 2016-2020, head of the Department of Sculpting Techniques at the Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław. From 2020, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation and Promotion of the Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław. Founder and co-organizer of the Festival of High Temperatures. He conducts workshops and foundry demonstrations, builds outdoor furnaces for melting bronze, aluminum and cast iron. He is also interested in the aspect of presence and absence of an artwork. He creates assemblage sculptures, bas-reliefs and installations which are cast from metal. In the creative process, he also uses 3D design and printing technology. He takes part in numerous exhibitions in Poland and abroad.

• 1Visiting artist during the 50th Annual University of Minnesota Iron Pour, USA, 2019
• Conducting shows during the 9th International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art. Berlin, Germany, 2022
• The "Unicorn" sculpture in the permanent collection of Caponi park sculpture Minnesota USA, 2023
• presentation during Prototyp Festival, Vodojemy Žlutý kopec, Brno, Czech Republic, 2022
• participation in the IRON: Translating Territories exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy Finlay Room, Edinburgh, Great Britain, 2022

Language of consultations: Polish, English

Characteristic of the projects and research in which the PhD student is to be subsumed, including the expected practical and theoretical competencies of the PhD student:

A PhD student will take part in the research connected with a variety of metal casting techniques used for making sculptures from aluminium, bronze and iron. The research will include the whole process of making objects from these materials: making a pattern and a mould, melting and pouring metal, finishing works (welding, patination). The PhD student will have an opportunity to make sodium silicate moulds, ceramic shell moulds and ancient recyclable moulds. The research might also be extended on the use of cast metal in the field of installation, performance and digital processing and 3D printing.

Characteristic of didactic cooperation between the supervisor and the PhD student:

Expected competences of a doctoral student:

Openness to experiment and cooperation with other creators, scientists, institutions and the ability to work in a team.

Developing your own workshop and creative language based on the technical possibilities of the studio of the Academy in Wrocław

Readiness to search for inspiring topics and create original artistic, educational and exhibition projects, as well as to cooperate with students and employees.

The doctoral student should have skills in sculpting and drawing due to the type of classes conducted with students as part of the mandatory teaching practice.