IF NOT YOU…
Many thanks
The 4th FINEness International Art Festival became a space of intense encounters – between art, people, and ideas. A program filled with workshops, performative actions, and conversations created a living structure in which the creative process transformed into a shared experience. It is within this energy that this year’s motto resonates most fully – *where matter becomes emotion*.
A particularly meaningful role was played by the audience. Their attentiveness, sensitivity, and openness gave depth to these activities, shaping a space of authentic dialogue. FINEness is a multicultural event – a meeting point of diverse artistic languages, experiences, and perspectives that intertwine and create new value.
This edition was made possible through the engagement of institutions and individuals who form the foundation of the festival. The Director of Zabytkowa Kopalnia Ignacy, Marek Gołosz, together with his team, created a space open to art and internationally oriented creative actions. Aleksandra Matuszczyk, Director of the Emil Drobny Museum in Rybnik and Edukatorium Juliusz, together with her team, brought an essential educational and reflective dimension, expanding the context of experiencing art.
The presence of partners and supporting environments – Marina Art and the educational partner SEI School of Innovative Education in Wodzisław Śląski – strengthened the relationship between art and education. The support of artistic brands: Renesans, Roman Szmal Art, Gamma, Colourstock, Escoda, and Museo directly contributed to the quality of workshops and creative activities.
An important part of the program were also curatorial and community-driven initiatives – the coordination of the Urban Sketchers group by Izabela Szewców and the curatorial care of the Young Talents section by Anna Bentkowska, both bringing freshness and authenticity to the festival.
The festival continues to grow in close connection with the city. The support of the City of Rybnik and the presence of Deputy Mayor Arkadiusz Marcol during the awards ceremony highlight the importance of culture as a vital element of local identity and its international dialogue.
Four editions now form a coherent narrative of the development of an idea that consistently connects artistic communities from around the world. The next edition – a symbolic fifth, anniversary edition – will be a natural continuation of this journey.
See you soon.
Aneta Gajos
Artistic Director of FINEness International Art Festival
Photo by Faber Photography
ORGANIZERS
IWS Poland (International Watercolor Society Poland)
An organization dedicated to promoting the art of watercolour, supporting artists, and fostering international artistic exchange. Through their passion and vision, the FINEness Festival has grown into a recognized event on the international art scene.
Ignacy Historic Mine
Once a symbol of industry, today a space for culture and creation. Its authentic industrial character gives the festival its unique depth and atmosphere.
Partner
Educational partner
Sponsors
Media patronage
Patronage
IV FINEness International Art Festival
Echo of Form
17 – 19 April 2026
Ignacy Historic Mine, Rybnik (Poland)
“Where matter becomes emotion”
About the Festival
The FINEness International Art Festival is a unique cultural event that, since its very beginning, has created a space for encounters between art and architecture, between tradition and modernity, between artists and audiences from all over the world.
In 2026, the festival returns for its fourth edition and once again transforms the Ignacy Historic Mine in Rybnik into a pulsating center of international artistic dialogue.
This year’s theme – “Echo of Form” – highlights the resonance between structure and emotion, geometry and imagination, history and the present moment. The industrial heritage of the mine is no longer just a backdrop but a living protagonist of the festival’s artistic narrative.
Workshop Registration – FINEness International Art Festival
Registration for the FINEness International Art Festival workshops is now open.
The workshops are one of the most inspiring elements of the festival program, creating a unique space for artistic exploration, creative exchange, and direct collaboration with distinguished artists invited from around the world.
During the sessions, participants will have the opportunity to work closely with the invited artists, discover their individual techniques, and gain insight into diverse creative processes. The intimate workshop format encourages focused practice, meaningful dialogue, and inspiring interaction within an international artistic environment.
The workshops are open to both emerging artists and experienced creators who wish to expand their artistic practice and engage with the vibrant creative atmosphere of the festival.
Places are limited.
We warmly invite you to take part in this unique artistic experience as part of the FINEness International Art Festival.
Echo of Form
The Artistic Vision
Form as memory
The geometry and rhythm of the mine’s architecture inspire paintings, installations, and performances.
Space as a creative partner
Site-specific works and performances engage directly with the architecture.
Multidisciplinarity as strength
Watercolour, painting, sculpture, photography, performance, digital art, sound and light merge into one shared story.
Transformation as experience
the former site of labor becomes a site of culture, and the viewer transforms from a passive observer into an active participant.
List of Participants
Poland
Agnieszka Dąbrowska-Zimon
Agnieszka Kaznowska
Agnieszka Reda
Agnieszka Sulimierska
Agnieszka Zdybel-Zawadzka
Anna Bentkowska
Anna Dziadkowiec-Bisztyga
Anna Lepiarczyk
Anna Raszka
Arkadiusz Gruchlik
Bogusława Jaworska-Zniszczoł
Elżbieta Litwin-Sondej
Halina Dąbik
Iwona Karoń-Jarzyńska
Iwona Sielska
Jacek Lewandowski
Janina Drużkowska-Cader
Joanna Dworzyńska
Jolanta Biegańska
Kasia Wiercińska
Klaudia Skopiec
Marta Konieczny
Marta Maceluch
Maryna Apostolova
Olena Kashchenko
Sonia Guja
Yuliya Zhuryd
Argentina
Emilio Perotti
Australia
Sharon Wilkinson
Violetta Kurbanova
Austria
Ewald Hinteregger
Belgium
Malgorzata Jouve
Belarus
Helen Danilova
Volha Bareisha
Brazil
Ekaterina Churakova
Bulgaria
Nikolina Chuchkova
Canada
Natalia Outkina
Cyprus
Francesca Pinoni
France
Marie Got
Greece
Spyridon Mouratidis
Germany
Alena Rumjancev
Annett Coumont
Claudia Hasler
Dieter Wystemp
Elvira Unruh
Gabriele Rinkleff
Irena Voit
Janna Liebender-Folz
Julia Kaiser
Julia Krasovskaya
Lana Lavrova
Lilia Kuleschow
Nina Niederhausen
Olga Schulz
Raisa Leier
Ute Speiser
Holland
Iryna Vozianova
Korobeynyk van Straaten
Indie
K N Haridas
Italy
Eleonora Serra
Paolo Pivari
Izrael
Racheli Tessler
Japan
Akira Sudo
Yuka Hirata
Kazachstan
Olga Bielova
Macedonia
Aneta Ivanovska Simjanovska
Ljubinka Gligorova
Marija Svetieva
Viktor Brangjolica
Mexico
Bruno Yamil Lecona Esteban
Cesar Gordillo
Norway
Olga Koelsch
New Zeland
Coco Wing
Portugal
Jolanta Mourinha
Marina Diachkova
Slovakia
Alena Sedlakova
Artem Polosukhin
Denis Borodayev
Slovenia
Janez Ovsec
Sweden
Manuchekhra Olsson
Turkey
Baha Boru
Cuneyt Senyavas
Ukraine
Elena Sereda
Maryna Bogdanova
Oksana Bazhynova
Oksana Chernachuk
Olena Anopriienko
Svetlana Yurieva
Yuliia Ludanova
USA
Alexandra Savelieva
Irena Noreikaite Petraitiene
Invited Artists
Anastasya Mouchan
Darya Sumarava-Kopach
Irina Yushmanova
Julia Ustinovivch
Kate Grishakova
Katarzyna Jędrys Siuda
Konstantin Sterkhov
Magda Kłos
Masahiro Okayama
Miran Kim
Nora Gallego Pasqual
Prafull Sawant
Sergyi Lysyy
Simonida Filipova Kitanovska
Surindr Sonthirati
Tawee Kesa-Ngam
Utisha Sonthirati
Wanwimol Kesa-Ngam
Program
The detailed program of the 4th FINEness International Art Festival – including workshops, exhibitions, live painting sessions, performances and interactive events.
Stay tuned and follow our updates to be the first to know!
17 April 2026
ART IN THE CITY
Art in the urban space
Locations: Rybnik City Centre • Historic Ignacy Mine
10:00–14:00 — URBAN ART SESSION – CITY PLEIN AIR
• Market Square • St. Anthony’s Basilica • District Office • Museum
An open-air session for all art forms – painting, photography, sketching, performance.
12:00–14:00 — COFFEE PAINTING WORKSHOP
• Halo Rybnik – Tourist Information Point
Painting with coffee and ink – an aromatic play of color and gesture.
13:00–14:00 — Pigment & Coffee Performance
Aneta Simjanovska – Macedonia
14:30 – 15:00 — ART TALK with Vladimir Merchensky
15:00–19:00 — FINENESS ART LAB – BRAND PARTICIPATION ZONE
• Historic Ignacy Mine (entire complex area)
12:00–14:30 — WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP – SPACE AS A DRIVING FORCE IN WATERCOLOR MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPES – ARKADIUSZ GRUCHLIK
A space for brands and artists: stands, presentations, Demo Stage, Meet the Brand.
15:00–18:00 — SOOT PAINTING WORKSHOP
Katarzyna Jędrys-Siuda
15:00 – 16:00 – WORKSHOP – Darya Sumarava (Belarus) – Still Life in Acrylic and Oil – Light, Matter, Presence
LIVE PAINTING DEMONSTRATIONS – Kościuszko Shaft
16:45–17:45 — MASTER DEMO – Prafull Sawant (India)
18:00 — OFFICIAL FESTIVAL OPENING & AWARDS GALA
• Kościuszko Shaft
Opening of exhibitions:
• Post-competition exhibition of the International Watercolor Competition
• Exhibition of invited artists (painting, workshop graphics, mixed media, sculpture)
• “Young Talents” – presentation of works by emerging artists
18:45 — Group Photo
Kościuszko Shaft
19:00–20:00 — BANQUET & NETWORKING COCKTAIL
Kościuszko Shaft
20:30 — SOCIALIZING MEETING
18 April 2026
MASTERS & EMOTIONS
Mastery and expression
Location: Historic Ignacy Mine – Rybnik
10:00–19:00 — FINENESS ART LAB – BRAND PARTICIPATION ZONE
Entire Ignacy Mine complex • Open stands, material testing, demonstrations and meetings with brands.
LIVE PAINTING DEMONSTRATIONS – Kościuszko Shaft
10:30–11:30 — MASTER DEMO – Irina Yushmanova (Mexico)
Figurative painting • Light and gesture.
11:45–12:45 — MASTER DEMO – Nora Gallego Pascual (Spain)
Still life • Classical form and light.
13:00–14:00 — MASTER DEMO – Masahiro Okayama (Japan)
14:00 – 16:00 — WORKSHOP with Vladimir Merchensky – “Watercolor Grammar”
14:15–15:15 — MASTER DEMO – Julia Ustinovich (Poland)
Hydro Oil
15:30–16:00 — ART PERFORMANCE – Simonida Filipova (Macedonia)
Kościuszko Shaft – performance stage • Movement, sound and emotion in an industrial space.
Parallel creative sessions
16:30–18:00 — “TOUCH OF MATTER” – EMOTIVE LINOCUT & LINE ART INSPIRED JEWELRY WORKSHOP
• Workshop rooms – Historic Ignacy Mine
Instructor: Aneta Gajos
Workshop graphics (linocut) • 15 participants
16:15–17:15 — LIVE MODEL PAINTING – Anastasiya Mouchan
• Kościuszko Shaft • Painting with a live model – participants co-create together with the artist.
16:15–19:00 — ACRYLIC WORKSHOP – Magda Kłos
• Workshop rooms – Ignacy Mine • Closed group • 15 participants
17:15 – 19:00 WARSZTATY Irina Yushmanova (MEXICO) – Light in the City
19:00 — GROUP PHOTO OF THE DAY “Machine”
Historic Ignacy Mine
19:30 — SOCIALIZING MEETING
19 April 2026
WHERE MATTER BECOMES EMOTION
Collective creation
Locations: Juliusz Educational Center • The Father E. Drobny Museum • St. Anthony’s Basilica
10:00–10:30 — OPENING OF THE DAY / MAP OF INSPIRATION
(Juliusz Educational Center) • Welcome and group photo.
10:30–12:30 — WORKSHOP – OLAF SZEPF – URBAN SKETCHING & MIXED MEDIA – YOUR VISUAL JOURNAL
10:30–12:30 — PLEIN AIR “RYBNIK IN ART”
• Juliusz Educational Center Courtyard • St. Anthony’s Basilica • The Father E. Drobny Museum
Open plein air session – painting, sketching, photography.
12:30–14:30 — PARALLEL WORKSHOPS
(Juliusz Educational Center – workshop rooms)
Urban Sketching – Tadeusz Golla (open to all)
Marker Art – Krzysztof Kałuszka (Poland)
Ink & Emotion – Kate Grishakova (Slovakia)
Watercolor illustrations inspired by the history of Silesia
14:30–16:00 — LUNCH BREAK
16:15–17:00 — QUICK-DRAW BATTLE – The Fast Brush Duel
(Juliusz Educational Center Courtyard)
• 8 artists • 3 rounds • the audience chooses the winners.
17:15–18:15 — 10-Meter Long Collective Painting
• A one-hour collaborative session
• Theme: Where Matter Becomes Emotion
• Group photo with the artwork.
18:30 — Former St. Julius Chapel – Sound Installation – Piotr Pawlak: Joints of Existence – free admission
20:00–21:00 — DRINK & DRAW & WINE PAINTING – FESTIVAL FINALE
(Kapka Wina, Rybnik)
Open Call – Watercolour Contest 
At the heart of the festival lies the International Watercolour Contest, an open invitation for artists worldwide to explore the theme “Echo of Form” through the delicate yet powerful medium of watercolour.
Submissions are now open!
The finalists’ works will be exhibited in the evocative industrial setting of the Ignacy Historic Mine during the festival.
1
Theme
• Main Theme: Where matter becomes emotion
• Additional Category: Open theme
2
Dimentions of work
Format: 38 × 56 cm (invited artists: 56 × 76 cm).
3
Medium
• Allowed: watercolour on paper; pencil and watercolour ink.
• Permitted up to 10%: acrylic, collage, crayon, pastel.
• Not allowed: prints, photographs, reproductions, or AI-generated works.
Digital Submission Guidelines:
• File format: .jpg / .jpeg
• Resolution: 300 dpi
• File size: 2–3 MB
• File name: Name – Country – Title – Year – Size – Price
• Images must show only the painting (cropped, correct orientation, no frames or background).
• Submitted images will be used in the festival catalogue – high-quality photos are required.
Key Dates
Deadline for digital submissions: 23.12.2025 – NEW DEADLINE!
Announcement of selected works: 10.01.2026
Payment deadline: 25.01.2026
Final date for EMS shipping of originals: 01.03.2026
Exhibition & Awards Ceremony: 17.04.2026
Competition rules
This year’s theme – “Echo of Form / Where matter becomes emotion” – opens a wide space for artistic interpretation: a dialogue between structure and feeling, geometry and imagination, memory and transformation.
Selected works will be exhibited at the Ignacy Historic Mine in Rybnik, a place where industrial heritage resonates with contemporary art.
Key Dates
• Deadline for digital submissions: 23.12.2025 – extended deadline for submitting
• Announcement of selected works: 10.01.2026
• Payment deadline: 25.01.2026
• Final date for EMS shipping of originals: 01.03.2026
• Exhibition & Awards Ceremony: 17.04.2026
Categories
• Main Theme: Where matter becomes emotion
• Additional Category: Open theme
Rules & Conditions of Entry
1. Open to all watercolour artists (18+), regardless of nationality or experience.
2. Each artist may submit only one work.
3. Medium:
• Allowed: watercolour on paper; pencil and watercolour ink.
• Permitted up to 10%: acrylic, collage, crayon, pastel.
• Not allowed: prints, photographs, reproductions, or AI-generated works.
4. Original works only:
• no copies, reproductions, or workshop/class work
• If using photographic references, the artist must hold permission from the copyright owner.
5. Works must have been created within the last 2 years.
6. Format: 38 × 56 cm (invited artists: 56 × 76 cm).
7. Works must be submitted without frames and without passe-partout.
8. Submissions are accepted only in electronic form.
Digital Submission Guidelines (electronic form)
• File format: .jpg / .jpeg
• Resolution: 300 dpi
• File size: 2–3 MB
• File name: Name – Country – Title – Year – Size – Price
• Images must show only the painting (cropped, correct orientation, no frames or background).
• Submitted images will be used in the festival catalogue – high-quality photos are required.
Submissions must be sent by email to: participation@finenessfestival.art
Participation Fee
Payment applies only if the work is selected for the exhibition:
• IWS members: 70 EUR
• Non-members: 100 EUR
• Country leaders submitting at least 5 artists: free of charge
Shipping of Originals
• Originals must be shipped only after selection and payment of the participation fee.
• Only EMS (Express Mail Service) shipments are accepted.
• Each painting must be accompanied by the official entry form (provided after selection).
• The artist is responsible for safe packaging. The organizer cannot be held responsible for damages during transport.
• All customs duties or legal charges resulting from incorrect declaration of value are the full responsibility of the artist. If a value other than the one indicated in the shipping instructions is declared, the artist assumes all financial responsibility.
Evaluation Criteria
The jury will evaluate works based on:
• interpretation of the theme Where matter becomes emotion,
• originality and innovation,
• technical quality,
• emotional impact,
• compositional and aesthetic coherence.
Awards
• 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prizes – artistic awards and certificates.
• Additional sponsor awards and special mentions.
• All selected works will be published in the festival catalogue and exhibited at the Ignacy Historic Mine.
• Prizes are non-exchangeable – no cash alternatives.
Copyright & Reproduction
• The artist retains full copyright of their work.
• By entering the competition, the artist grants the organizers the right to reproduce submitted images for promotional purposes (catalogue, website, social media, press).
• Works remain the property of the artist; any sale must take place directly between the artist and the buyer.
Important Information
• By entering the competition, participants agree to be bound by all rules and conditions of entry.
• IWS Poland and the festival organizers will not be held responsible for circumstances beyond their control (e.g. customs delays, shipping issues, or force majeure).
Open Call – IV FINEness International Art Festival – Echo of Form is an invitation to join a global dialogue in watercolour, where matter transforms into emotion and space becomes art.
Submissions: participation@finenessfestival.art
Be Part of the Festival!
Join as a Volunteer
FINEness is not only about art – it is also about the people who make it happen. Each edition of the festival is brought to life by a passionate team of artists, organizers and volunteers working together towards a common vision.
We are looking for volunteers who want to experience the festival from the inside and become part of an international event.
We welcome open-minded, creative, and enthusiastic people ready to join our team.
As a volunteer you will:
collaborate with artists from different countries,
gain valuable experience in organizing an international cultural event,
become part of a team that creates something truly extraordinary.
If you want to join us, send your application to: