David Motak

Dave is an award-winning artist and an internationally respected szopka expert.

The szopka art form (“shop-kah”) originated in the 1800s as elaborate sets for traveling puppet theaters in Cracow, Poland. Built from wood, cardboard and colored foil paper, the szopka incorporates whimsical interpretations of architectural motifs in elaborate structures of varying sizes. It was brought to America in a simplified style by Polish immigrants in the late 1800s.

Dave aims to translate this idiosyncratic traditional art to reflect a more contemporary, universal perspective.