Rusak was born in Warsaw, Poland, where he graduated in European Studies and attended courses at the Academy of Fine Arts. He went on to study at Design Academy Eindhoven and the Royal College of Art in London, where he developed his artistic language. Raised in a family of flower growers, Rusak was always fascinated by these natural sources of inspiration and decoration. He began engaging with them in his creative process by reusing waste to investigate novel approaches towards everyday objects.
Today, Rusak is renowned for his innovative use of overlooked organic materials, including floral waste sourced from an extended network of dedicated collaborators and supporters. His techniques often involve preserving natural elements in various states of decomposition, creating pieces that evoke ideas related to the passage of time and the impermanence of matter. Combining degradable materials like waste flowers with more durable materials, including resin or metal, Rusak creates objects, sculptures and installations that explore themes of preservation, ephemerality, memory and the relationship between nature and human intervention.
Rusak’s work has been exhibited by many prestigious institutions around the world, including Victoria and Albert Museum, Jerwood Foundation, Horta Museum, Design Museum, Ordet and BIO Ljubljana. His works have been included in the permanent collections of institutions including High Museum of Art and Centre national des arts plastiques.
Rusak has received several awards recognising his contribution to art and design, including the Perrier-Jouët Arts Salon prize in 2015, the Wallpaper* Design Award in 2016, the U-50 International Hokuriku Kogei Awards in 2017, the Architectural Digest Design Awards in 2016, the Mazda Design Award in 2018 and the EDIDA Young Design Talent of the Year 2022. The monograph Marcin Rusak: Encoded Symbols (2020, Nero Editions) presents the results of the Polish designer’s creative thought through selected projects, illustrated by a rich photographic series.
