The American Institute of Polish Culture joins the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs at Florida International University to present Rafal Olbinski, the internationally acclaimed Polish-American painter and designer, in conversation on surrealism, symbolism and the creative process.
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | 2:00–3:15 PM
Green School International Pavilion (SIPA II, Room 102)
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs, Florida International University
11200 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL 33199
Presented as part of the Blanka Rosenstiel Lecture Series on Poland.
About the Lecture
Step into the imaginative world of acclaimed Polish-American artist Rafal Olbinski, whose dreamlike images transform the familiar into the unexpected. In this engaging conversation, Olbinski reflects on surrealism, symbolism and the creative process, exploring the power of art to challenge convention, reveal hidden truths and expand the boundaries of what we see and understand. Drawing on a remarkable international career, he considers the essential role of imagination and freedom of expression in art, culture and contemporary society.
About Rafal Olbinski
Rafal Olbinski is an internationally acclaimed Polish-American painter, illustrator, designer and educator known for his distinctive surrealist imagery and poetic visual storytelling. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Time and Der Spiegel and is held in collections including the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress. Recipient of more than 150 awards and honors, Olbinski has exhibited worldwide and received Poland’s prestigious Gold Medal for Merit to Culture, Gloria Artis.
About the Moderator
Tori Arpad-Cotta, MFA is Chair and Associate Professor of Art + Art History in FIU’s College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts, where she teaches ceramics. Her site-based artistic practice explores landscape, place and the natural and built environments. She has served as an artist-in-residence with AIRIE in Everglades National Park and Land Arts of the American West, and has exhibited nationally and internationally. Her honors include a Florida State Cultural Council Artist’s Fellowship and an NCECA Emerging Artist Award.
Presented in collaboration with
The American Institute of Polish Culture, Inc. · The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Poland · College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts · Vaclav Havel Program for Human Rights & Democracy · Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence
Should you need an ADA accommodation to participate in a University event, program, or activity, or need to request materials in an accessible format, please contact FIU’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at 305-348-2785 or accommodations@fiu.edu. All requests for ADA accommodation or accessible materials for this event must be submitted to OCR at least seven (7) business days prior to the event, or at the earliest possible opportunity.
Photos from the Lecture
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