Modern Polish art is born with the experiments, especially avant-gardists, of the period of the "Young Poland ": symbolist painters, impressionist school, historical school of painting, cubism, constructivism. The Poles also illustrate themselves in the XXth century with the theatre of avant-garde and with the cinema with in particular Andrzej Wajda, Roman Polanski, Krzysztof Kieslowski.

Easily noticeable in the theatre (with in particular Tadeusz Kantor and the group Cricot 2 of Cracow, Jerzy Grotowski and the Theatre Laboratory of Wrocàw), the Polish creativity in the XXth century was active in the cinema. A true cinema Polish school emerged, especially reputable since the end of the Second World war, with the directors Andrzej Wajda (Ashes and diamonds, 1958; the Marble man, 1976; the Holy Week, 1996; the Ring of hair, 1993); Roman Polanski (Repulsion, 1965; the Ball of the vampires, 1966; the Moon of gall, 1992; the Girl and death, 1995), become American; Jerzy Skolimowski (Deep end, 1970; Moonlighting, 1982) and Krzysztof Kiecòwski (Decalogue, 1987-1988; Double life of Veronique, 1991; Three Colors: Blue, 1993; Three Colors: White and Three Colors: Red, 1994).