Izabella Gustowska (1948 – Current)

Izabella Gustowska (1948 – Current)

Studied at the Poznan Academy of Fine Arts under Tadeusz Jackowski (1972).

Gustowska represented Poland at the Biennale in Sao Paulo (1987).

One of the Poland’s pre-eminent video artists. Her work evokes personal experiences, individual emotions, resulting from reflection on the ambiguous nature of time. I first encountered her work at the National Museum in Wrocław which exhibited many of her works within the context of the gallery space, not particularly that of Gustowska’s installations.  Here, her work appeared to me as lucid, dreamlike, three dimensional soft paintings; almost like melancholic, figurative relief quilts.

Visit her website for more information: http://www.gustowska.com/
Her work also has a lot of You Tube presence.

Alfons Mazurkiewicz (1922-1975)

Alfons Mazurkiewicz (1922-1975)

Studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Wrocław, under Eugene Geppert.

Mazurkiewicz’s early paintings were surrealistic but by the late 1960’s and early 1070’s he began work on almost completely monochromatic paintings emphasizing the physicality of the surface. These works use thick oil paint to create rhythmic parallel lines, playing with light, giving the illusion of a morphing, unstable surface.

Unfortunately, it seems his work is not well known internationally.

Tadeusz Brzozowski (1918–1987)

Tadeusz Brzozowski (1918–1987)

Studied at the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts in (1936 – 1945, time off during WWII)

Held positions at the Krakow Polytechnic Institute (1945-54), the Visual Arts College in Zakopane (1954-69), Poznań's State Higher School of Visual Arts (1962-79), and the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow (1979-81).

Painter, stage designer, fabric designer. Most known for his highly abstract paintings which were grotesque and turbulent in style using a striking sensitivity for color. Many considered his paintings surrealist. 

In 1954 Brzozowski moved to Zakopane,  where he associated with Tadeusz Kantor and his Cricot 2 Theatre.  Zakopane now has a street named after Brzozowski. 

Magdalena Abakanowicz (1930 – Current)

Magdalena Abakanowicz (1930 – Current)

Studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw. (1950-1954)

Perhaps first known in the 1960’s for her "Abakans" (derived from her surname), they are large, hung, woolen sculptures made from materials woven by herself in her own technique.

In the 1970’s she developed her trademark burlap and resin sculptures. Haunting figures with rope veins and intestines cased in a leathery, semi-transparent, coarse cloth of skin, eternally frozen in time.

She is a very famous artist. There are many books on her work in English. Her work has a large web presence; Google searching her name is recommended if you aren’t already familiar.

Paulina Ołowska (1976 – Current)

 Paulina Ołowska (1976 – Current)

Attended School of the Art Institute of Chicago (BFA 1996)
Attended Academy of Fine Arts, Gdansk, Poland (MFA  1997-2000)

Many of Ołowska's paintings are prodding, sardonic recreations of late communist-era Poland’s  westernized advertisements; Thin aristocrats modeling costly clothing, modern Warsaw’s version of the classic Sweater Girl.  Likewise, her collages tend to cross/blend cultures of the 80’s and 90’s with a Bahaus-esque compositional aesthetic.  Most recently she has been working with installations and performance. 

 

 

Edward Krasiński (1925-2004)

Edward Krasiński (1925-2004)

Studied at the Krakow State School of Applied Arts (during WWII).
Studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Krakow (1945-1950) under Wladyslaw Jarocki and Eugene Eibisch.

Polish sculptor and painter, associated with avant-garde trends. Since 1970, his trademark was blue adhesive tape at a height of 130cm.

Shared a studio in Warsaw with Henry Stazewski.  Foksal Gallery in Warsaw has repeatedly presented his work (15 solo exhibitions). Krasiński  was a protagonist of Poland's neo-avant-garde.
When the artworks for his exhibition at the 1970 Tokyo Biennial did not arrive, he sent the word “BLUE” 5000 times by telex, and exhibited this text on the long paper strip. The original plan for the exhibit has been reproduced, most notably at MoMA.

One of my favorite all-time Polish artists, my left arm bears a blue stripe tattoo as homage.