Dr AGATA NOREK
Agata Norek earned the title of Doctor of Fine Arts, with distinction. Her doctorate was nominated for the Prime Minister’s prize for best Doctoral theses in Poland in 2013 for her masterpiece Shields Against Violence.
She also holds a MA degree in painting and graphic design, the latter also with distinction.
As a student Agata Norek worked at the Fine Arts Academy in Katowice as an assistant to prof. Cieslik and prof. Karbowniczek in the fields of painting and drawing.
In 2003, as best graduating student, Agata Norek was ranked 1st at the Fine Arts Academy in Katowice and was ranked 3rd in the Silesia region overall, and was thus awarded the title of Primus Inter Pares.
With her thesis in graphic design, she was invited to enter a competition in Warsaw, for the best diplomas in 2003. The competition and its subsequent exhibition was held under the patronage of the former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.
Three times in her career thus far, Agata Norek has been awarded a scholarship from the city of Chorzow in Poland. She has received various other scholarships from the Socrates - Erasmus Program, the Rotary Club and the Hugo Kollataj Foundation in Katowice, Poland.
From 2008 to 2010 she managed an art gallery: Gallery Norek presenting her own work in Augsburg, Germany.
Agata Norek is author of large scale event, the Outdoor Art Installation in Brussels, Belgium 2011 in front of the European Parliamen. This installation assisted the city of Katowice, Poland, in its bid for the title: Katowice - European Capital of Culture 2016 and has been extremely well received and has attracted extensive media coverage: http://www.norek-jardin.com
2012 she won 1st Prize by the Augsburger Medienpreis with the concept to promote the city of Augsburg.
Also in 2012, Agata Norek founded the SHIELDS AGAINST VIOLENCE SAV e. V. association, which deals with issues of combating the effects of violence, and treating trauma through art.
In 2015, the exhibition of SHIELDS AGAINST VIOLENCE was presented a wider audience in the Baviarian Landtag in Munich. The exhibition was launched by the President of the Landtag, Barbara Stamm. The event was titled STRONG WOMEN FOR A BETTER WORLD.
Issue 01 | 2016 of VOGUE Magazine included an article about Agata Norek’s SHIELDS AGAINST VIOLENCE. The magazine was available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
In April 2016, the artist presented the project to the participants of the Silesian Women's Congress, where she received the title of "WOMEN OF SUCCESS" in Silesia for her merits and achievements.
In July 2016 "SHIELDS AGAINST VIOLENCE" received 3rd place in the AUGSBURGER MEDIENPREIS contest in the category INSPIRATIONS.
Agata Norek was special guest at the „Life Integration – Better to Love, Work and Be” organised by VERSO - Center for Psychological, Therapeutic and Educational Assistance alongside prof. Jerzy Vetulani, Wojciecha Eichelberger, prof. Cezary Szczylik and Justyna Pronobis-Szczylik.
In September 22, 2016 in Cracow, alongside prof. Rosemarie Garland - Thomson (Emory University in Atlanta), Agata Norek was a special guest of the conference entitled "Diversity Changemakers" organised by the Diversity Hub. The conference was devoted to practical solutions regarding managing diversity in business. Agata Norek conducted the workshop "How to channel weakness into creative work? Change through art "and also took part in an expert panel and open discussion:"Seeing the person in an organisation. What is slow management?”
British VOGUE 9|2017 has contributed about project SHIELDS AGAINST VIOLENCE and Agata Norek mentioning her cooperation with fashion designer Ramona Erb. Except for information about project, VOGUE has published a photograph with “A shield against female circumcision” which Agata created herself after reading the bestseller “Desert Flower” written by Waris Dirie.
In October 2017 a magazine LAW BUSINESS QUALITY voted Agata Norek a title BUSINESS LIONESS.The reward was voted to 15 women in Poland. Agata Norek received it for her efforts as a first chairwoman in SAV e.V. association.
She has presented her work to the public in 10 solo exhibitions in Poland and Germany and participated in more than 25 group exhibitions in Poland, Germany, France, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.