about us
ART CONSERVATION WORKSHOP
HERICON
In our studio, we carry out conservation work on easel paintings and sculptures. We are also engaged in on-site projects in historic interiors, including wall paintings and wooden polychromed sculptures. Beyond standard conservation treatments, our studio specializes in the structural conservation of panel paintings — an area that requires advanced expertise and experience. We collaborate with specialists from various fields and continuously refine our skills, enabling us to take on even the most demanding projects.
Thanks to experience gained in European cultural institutions and through cooperation with Polish museums, we understand the challenges faced by conservators in the museum environment. Our team is able to meet these expectations, offering solutions tailored to both small and large collections, whether private or public.
The Hericon Conservation Studio is located in the very heart of Kraków, in the historic interiors of a traditional townhouse.
Our facilities meet strict requirements for climate control—particularly regarding relative humidity, which we adjust to suit the needs of sensitive objects. The studio is also equipped with a full security system.
We offer a comprehensive range of conservation and restoration services—from developing conservation plans to preparing the final conservation documentation.
offer
Conservation of panel paintings
At the Hericon studio, we deal with the structural conservation of wooden panels.
We repair split panels, improve stabilizing systems and develop new ones.
Methods and materials
Modular Cleaning Program. We work with the latest methods and resources. But we also know old, tried-and-true methods.
In cooperation with scientists from various fields, we carry out specialized research on the facility
Conservation of paintings on canvas
We perform conservation of paintings on canvas, including large-format ones.
Technological copies
The studio creates copies of oil and tempera paintings, including copies of icons.
Conservation of wall paintings
We conduct conservation work on wall paintings, both on masonry and wooden support. We also conduct conservation research in historic interiors.
Design work
We develop programs of
conservation work, we provide cost estimates. We offer comprehensive support in the formalities necessary to apply for grants for conservation work.
team
The core of the team consists of three art conservators, graduates of the Faculty of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art at the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow
Iwona Martynowicz
Iwona has extensive experience in the filed of art conservation. Her portfolio includes the conservation of large-scale baroque canvases, gothic panel paintings, and wall paintings, including Byzantine-Ruthenian works. She was also a member of the conservation team for the Veit Stoss altarpiece at St. Mary’s Basilica in Kraków. In 2024/25, she took part in specialized training organized under the Getty Canvas Initiative at the National Museum in Gdańsk.
After many years of working in conservation teams, she has been running her own practice for nearly a decade.
Paulina Węgrzyn-Jankowiak
Paulina specializes in advanced art cleaning techniques. She applies the Modular Cleaning Program, a modern system that allows for precise and safe removal of dirt and aged layers, fully protecting the artwork. She has trained internationally and published research in this field.
In addition, Paulina is a talented copyist, recreating traditional techniques with great accuracy. She also teaches and conducts research at the Faculty of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków.
Dr. Irma Pawelska
Irma specializes in the structural conservation of panel paintings.
She is a graduate of the educational program organized as part of the Getty Panel Painting Initiative. She has completed internships at KIK-IRPA in Brussels, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, and—through the Getty PPI—at the Hamilton Kerr Institute’s London Studio as well as at the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
Irma also works as a lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków.
Grzegorz Kostecki
Painting conservator. Expert in the structural conservation of wooden paintings. University lecturer.
Prof. Paweł Pencakowski
Art historian, researcher and academic lecturer
Areleta Chwalik-Sadaić
Painting conservator
and artistic crafts. Employee of the National Museum in Krakow
Sylwia Kalemba
Sculpture conservator
and contemporary art. Employee of the Wrocław Contemporary Museum
Sylwia Kalemba
Sculpture conservator
and contemporary art. Employee of the Wrocław Contemporary Museum
collaborators
Our projects are supported by a group of trusted collaborators.
Their expertise allows us to take on even the most complex conservation challenges and ensure the highest quality of work.