Katowice beboks are a collection of small outdoor sculptures portraying characters from Slavic folklore known as beboks, scattered across various locations in Katowice, Poland. Initiated and designed by Katowice artist , the first beboks were installed in July 2021 in the Nikiszowiec district.
These sculptures are often compared to the Wrocław Dwarfs or the , serving as a tourist attraction in Katowice. Earlier attempts at similar figurines, introduced on 7 September 2017 as part of the Silesian Dialect Trail, were short-lived due to theft and vandalism.
Appearance The Katowice beboks are a series of small outdoor sculptures depicting the Slavic demon bebok in varied forms with distinct attributes. Conceived by Katowice artist , whose studio is located at 9/4 Odrowążów Street in Nikiszowiec, the beboks are portrayed as friendly creatures, inspired by a drawing Chudy created for a child.
Typically commissioned by businesses, local communities, or institutions, the figurines are funded independently or through crowdfunding and sales of commemorative items. The creation process begins with a sketch, followed by a watercolor, and culminates in a bronze casting crafted in a Zabrze workshop run by Dariusz Kik and Karolina Piechota.
Beyond sculptures, beboks appear as magnets, Christmas cards, watercolors, and plush toys produced by Ewa Kapias of the KrysKa Designe Handicraft Association, based at 11 St. Anna Street in Katowice.
The beboks are a tourist attraction in Katowice, akin to Wrocław Dwarfs or . They form the Katowice Bebok Trail. Visitors can collect stamps to earn a "Bebok Hunter" badge. Residents and institutions often dress the beboks in seasonal outfits, such as winter clothing, Halloween costumes, or accessories for social campaigns.
List of beboks
Beboks by Grzegorz Chudy in Katowice +Katowice beboks (as of 7 October 2025)No.NameDescriptionYearLocationCoordinatesImageSource1WincyntBebok symbolizing a miner2021Janów-Nikiszowiec; near the Nikiszowiec model in front of the 2MichalinoFemale bebok holding a coffee mug2021Janów-Nikiszowiec; on the Cafe Byfyj's windowsill, B. Krawczyk Street3–4Frelka i MiglancBeboks depicted returning from shopping2021Śródmieście; outside the main entrance to Galeria Katowicka (30 3 Maja Street)5KuklokBebok as a firefighter, named after Adam Kusz's nickname from the Volunteer Fire Department in Dąbrówka Mała2022Dąbrówka Mała; outside the Volunteer Fire Department (33 )6FazanBebok as a builder, named "pheasant" in Silesian dialect2022Kostuchna; on the fountain enclosure at Bażantowo Estate (Bażantów Street)7BebookBebok symbolizing a literature enthusiast2022Śródmieście; by a lamppost in the courtyard of the (26 )8JorguśBebok escaping from Grzegorz Chudy's "Atelier z akwarelami" gallery2022Janów-Nikiszowiec; by a familok window at the A. Czechowa and Odrowążów streets intersection9MikośBebok as a talented footballer and student2022Załęska Hałda-Brynów; at the entrance to the Complex of Technical and General Education Schools nr 2 (131 Mikołowska Street)10ErnestBebok as a hockey player, commemorating of Naprzód Janów2022Janów-Nikiszowiec; outside ice rink (10 Z. Nałkowska Street)11BōnclokBebok holding cutlery2022Śródmieście; in the restaurant area of Galeria Katowicka (30 3 Maja Street)12BogućBebok inspecting a teacup2022Zawodzie; on the windowsill of a shop at the factory (23 Porcelanowa Street)13FerdynandBebok as a miner2022Bogucice; in the central part of (Kopalniana Street)14FlorkaFemale bebok holding Katowice's logo (a heart-shaped sigil)2023Śródmieście; at Kwiatowy Square (Market Square)15ArturBebok in a loose hoodie with a spray can2023Kostuchna; outside Dagma Art gallery at Bażantowo Estate (4/1 A. Puchała Street)16KasiaFemale bebok as a student with a backpack and quill2023Śródmieście; at the to (11 )17EwaldBebok as an artist painting Giszowiec, named after of the 2023Giszowiec; at the to the (1 )18HalabardzikBebok holding a halberd, linked to the center's activities2023Ligota-Panewniki; at the Bezpieczna Twierdza Intergenerational Integration Center (13 )19Szperhok Szperhok IIBebok holding a key to a large padlock (second bebok inside the shop)2023Koszutka; at the entrance to Silesian Security Center (11 G. Morcinek Street)20BaśkaFemale bebok with a bow, holding scissors2023Bogucice; at the entrance to a hair salon (36 Wrocławska Street)21SajdoczekBebok as a basketball player, commemorating physical education teacher Tadeusz Sajda2023Piotrowice-Ochojec; outside W. Szafer Elementary School (18 S. Łętowski Street)22HercklekotekBebok as a studious student sitting on books2023Śródmieście; outside the library of the Medical University of Silesia (14 Warszawska Street)23StatusiaFemale bebok holding a laptop with a bar chart nearby2023Wełnowiec-Józefowiec; at the Statistical Office in Katowice (3 Owocowa Street)24SzwajkaFemale bebok-podologist, reminding people to care for their feet2023Śródmieście; on the windowsill of a medical office at 11/1 Francuska Street25RajzaFemale bebok-tourist wearing a hat and pulling a suitcase2023Śródmieście; at Mercure hotel (6 Młyńska Street)26KatewuśBebok stacking blocks resembling KTW office buildings2023Koszutka; on a square near KTW office buildings (1 )27–28Sztefa i ErwinekTwo figurines referencing the Nikiszowiec mangle, named after Stefania Blaut and of the 2023Janów-Nikiszowiec; on the windowsill of the (4 Rymarska Street)29UncjuszBebok holding a gold coin2023Śródmieście; outside a currency exchange near 30HarmoniaFemale bebok standing on a balance beam2023Szopienice-Burowiec; at the Psychiatry Center in Katowice (27 J. Korczak Street)31FrancikBebok holding a sparrow, referencing St. Francis of Assisi2023Ligota-Panewniki; at the Franciszkańskie Estate square (35 Książęca Street)32WituśBebok in a military beret holding a shield, reflecting the school's educational profile2023Osiedle Witosa; inside (87 )33GretkaFemale bebok sitting on a swing2023Janów-Nikiszowiec; in the window of KrysKa Designe studio (11 St. Anna Street)34–35KlachUla i KneflikTwo figurines; KlachUla holds a traditional phone, Kneflik a smartphone2023Dąb; outside (2 )36PelagiaFemale bebok in winter clothing holding a radiator2023Bogucice; at the Dalkia company building (14 Father F. Ścigała Street)37MajsterBebok holding the letters "Z", "D", and "Z"2023Śródmieście; at the entrance to (2 )38HasikBebok standing on a garbage truck2023Śródmieście; at the Municipal Public Utilities Company base (10 )39JurekBebok commemorating mountaineer Jerzy Kukuczka, a school alumnus, climbing the building facade2023Bogucice; on the facade of (42–44 )40AntenekBebok as a reporter holding a microphone2023Śródmieście; at the to Polish Radio Katowice (29 )41Dochtorka CilaFemale bebok as a pediatrician2023Brynów-Osiedle Zgrzebnioka; at Bluemed Clinic (6 )42AntonBebok as an official, named after 2023Szopienice-Burowiec; outside the former (24 )43–44Staś i HelaBebok pair as students; Staś gives Hela a poppy flower2024Koszutka; outside (54 )45GajerekBebok in an elegant suit2024Koszutka; on the windowsill of a clothing store (23 G. Morcinek Street)46DentruśBebok as a dentist2024Wełnowiec-Józefowiec; at a dental clinic (49 )47KonopiuszBebok with a newspaper cap holding a paintbrush2024Śródmieście; outside (6 B. Głowacki Street)48ZefelBebok with tools and gadgets2024Śródmieście; by the Guild of Various Crafts and Entrepreneurship (32 )49AkademikusBebok dressed in a gown and biretta, holding a rector's scepter in its hand2024Piotrowice-Ochojec; at the building of the (3 Harcerzy Września 1939 Street)50SzpilokBebok as a gamer, holding a game controller in his hand and wearing headphones with a microphone on his head2024Śródmieście; in the patio of the complex (17–19 )51StawikBebok as an angler, fishing from the ponds2024Osiedle Paderewskiego – Muchowiec; in front of the shopping mall (60 K. Pułaska Street)52BazylBebok as a pizzaiolo, holding a pizza and a pizza peel2024Bogucice; at the pizzeria (38 )53DoradziejkaFemale bebok holding a collection of tax regulations in one hand and an umbrella in the other2024Koszutka; at the fountain ()54TaryfiorzBebok sitting in a car2024Piotrowice-Ochojec; at the headquarters of a transport company (42b Zbożowa Street)55LusiaFemale bebok named after , a promoter of Upper Silesian culture2024Piotrowice-Ochojec; at Municipal Kindergarten No. 93 (24 S. Łętowski Street)56KarlikBebok holding a stove in his hand2024Osiedle Witosa; at the S. Ligoń Elementary School (23 )57TauzenikBebok holding a large ear of corn in his hands, referencing the nearby high-rise complex2024Osiedle Tysiąclecia; on a square at 8 Zawisza Czarny Street58SzerlokBebok in the role of a detective2024Śródmieście; at the entrance to the (11b )59WitosiakBebok arranging a figure made of chestnuts2024Osiedle Witosa; at 60DorkaFemale bebok standing with a Schultüte; her name refers to Prof. Dorota Simonides, who was a graduate of the school2024Janów-Nikiszowiec; by the (18 )61LudolfinaFemale bebok holding a spade ace card; the card refers to the school's colloquial name "PIK", the name also being one of the names of the number pi2024Śródmieście; by the of (42 3 Maja Street)62EkonomikBebok economist, reading a book2024Zawodzie; by the building of the Center for Modern Technologies of the University of Economics (5 Bogucicka Street)63Profesor QuatronusBebok as a wizard, holding a flying broom and a wand2024Kostuchna; on a post in front of the Quatronum tourist office (68 )64RechtulaFemale bebok as Themis, holding scales in one hand and a slingshot in the other2024Janów-Nikiszowiec; in front of a law firm (7a Bzów Street)65FundekBebok with a large globe in front of him2024Zawodzie; at the headquarters of the Upper Silesian Fund (Al. Rozdzieńskiego 188)