The paper analyses the exportation and importation of works of art between Poland and the European Union prior to Poland’s entry into the bloc on May 1, 2004. The author presents a dynamic analysis of artwork exports and imports data according to Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS) in 1992-2004. She identifies the main artwork export and import markets in Europe and estimates the share of the private sector in artwork trade. The analysis yields several conclusions. The value of artwork exports and imports between Poland and the EU-15 was characterized by major changes. EU countries accounted for a high percentage of Poland’s artwork trade in 1992-2004. This applies to both exports and imports. In the analyzed period, the value of Polish artwork exports was higher than the value of imports. Moreover, the analysis revealed that the movement of artwork between Poland and the EU was strongly concentrated in the case of several countries, with a clear marginalization of the remaining member states. France, Germany, Britain and Italy had the greatest share in Poland’s artwork trade. The share of the private sector in artwork trade was considerable, exceeding 75 percent in exports and 58 percent in imports.