Natalia Lach-Lachowicz

Natalia Lach-Lachowicz (1937, Żywiec - 2022), working under the pseudonym Natalia LL, was a painter, photographer and author of performances, video and installations - regarded as one of the most important Polish visual artists of the second half of the 20th century. In 1957-1963 she studied at the State Higher School of Fine Arts in Wrocław (diploma under Professor Stanisław Dawski), and from 1964 she belonged to the Union of Polish Art Photographers.

In 1970, together with her husband Andrzej Lachowicz, Zbigniew Dłubak and the critic Antoni Dzieduszycki, she founded in Wrocław the group and the PERMAFO Gallery - one of the most important centres of photomedialism and conceptual art, promoting photography as a „transparent” means of recording. The gallery's first exhibition was „Intimate Photography” (1971). A year later the cycle that brought the artist worldwide fame came into being - „Consumer Art” (1972-1975): photographs of young women ostentatiously, sensually consuming bananas and other products. The work commented at once on the shortages of the People's Republic and on social notions about women, becoming a groundbreaking work of feminist and critical art.

From 1975 Natalia LL joined the international feminist art movement, taking part in numerous symposia and exhibitions; in 1976 her „Consumer Art” appeared on the cover of the magazine „Flash Art”, and in 1977 she became a scholar of the Kościuszko Foundation in New York. Decorated with the Silver „Gloria Artis” Medal (2007) and honoured with the Katarzyna Kobro Award (2013), she remains one of the leading figures of the Polish neo-avant-garde.