Quick trip to Warsaw

In November 2024 I finally made it to the Neon Museum in Warsaw—a long-time dream. Organized by the Polish Institute in Budapest, a small team of us spent a little over 24 hours in the city.

Founded by David S. Hill and Ilona Karwinska in 2005, the museum is a unique institution that collects and preserves the region’s neon signs—many Hungarian neons are part of the collection. It’s fascinating to discover the similarities among the lettering and imagery of Polish, Hungarian, and other neighboring countries. Their striking look stems from designers who were masters of the Polish Poster School, which also explains the visual language of Hungarian neons, since they draw from the same graphic tradition.

In 2025 the museum moved to Warsaw’s most iconic building, the Palace of Culture and Science, so if you’re in town it’s a must-visit. If you’re not, I recommend their beautiful photo books, which you can order from their website.

https://neonmuzeum.bigcartel.com