Henryk LASKOWSKI (b. 1951), Happiness, 1977

lithograph, paper, 73 x 50 cm, framed: 88 x 64.5 cm, e.a. 1/14, signed lower right: Henryk Laskowski, 77

Born in 1951 in Żary near Żagań. He graduated from the State Higher School of Fine Arts (now the University of Arts in Poznań) in Poznań, Faculty of Painting, Graphic Arts, and Sculpture, majoring in Printmaking. Graduated with honors from the Lithography studio under the supervision of Prof. Lucjan Mianowski. Completed an annex in the illustration and poster studio of Prof. Waldemar Świerzy. In the 1980s, he worked in publishing graphics (book illustration, cover design, posters), drawing, and painting. The year 1981 led him to emigrate to France by chance. He lived in Paris until 1983. After returning to Poland, he maintained ties with France for the next dozen or so years, traveling annually to Paris and Normandy. His stay in France, the magic of Paris, and his travels to Italy are reflected in his work and continue to resonate in the paintings he creates today. In his paintings, he explores a broad range of urban themes. He is also interested in landscape, nature, people, and society. He draws inspiration for his paintings from the surrounding reality, popular culture, film, and literature. Laskowski, mindful of both tradition and contemporary developments in painting, also draws on another medium so vital to the present day—photography. For him, the camera serves as both a notebook and a sketchbook. He interprets fragments of reality captured through the lens using the means of painting. He describes the surrounding reality using the language of poetic metaphor. In his works, one can find references to Pop Art, metaphorical realism, and Surrealism.

Selected solo and group exhibitions:

2020 – post-competition exhibition of the 4th L. Wyczółkowski National Painting Competition, BWA City Gallery in Bydgoszcz
2020 – Libra Gallery, Warsaw (solo exhibition)
2019 – “Japan & Poland. Exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations,” EMP Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2019 – “Robinson’s Ship. International Exhibition of Contemporary Art,” City Gallery and Museum of Architecture, Wrocław
2019 – “Japan & Poland. Exhibition Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations,” Information and Culture Institute of the Embassy of Japan, Warsaw
2018 – “The Reality of Illusions,” U Gallery, Warsaw (solo exhibition)
2018 – “Realism. Two Perspectives,” BWA City Gallery, Bydgoszcz
2016 – “Art Confrontations,” Test Gallery, Warsaw
2016 – “On the Road,” Next Gallery, Bydgoszcz
2016 – 25th Festival of Polish Contemporary Painting, Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes in Szczecin
2015 – Post-competition exhibition of the 5th International Drawing Competition, M.E. Andriolli Gallery, Nałęczów Cultural Center
2015 – “Contemporary Polish Art,” European Parliament, Helsinki, Finland
2015 – CDEF Gallery, Olsztyn (solo exhibition)
2013 – “Woman in an Interior,” SD Wilanów Gallery, Warsaw (solo exhibition)
2012 – Exhibition marking the 30th anniversary of Galeria U, Galeria U, Warsaw
2011 – U Gallery, Warsaw (solo exhibition)
2011 – “Kunst aus Polen,” City Hall, Stuttgart, Germany
2010 – Galleria Poliedro, Trieste, Italy
2009 – “Paris L’Obsession – Obsession with Paris,” SD Wilanów Gallery, Warsaw
2009 – “Visible, Invisible,” Płock Art Gallery, Płock
2008 – “Polish Surrealists,” SD Panorama Gallery, Warsaw
2007 – “Knock, Knock, Knock on the Gates of Paradise,” Składnica Sztuki Gallery, Warsaw (solo exhibition)
2003 – Warsaw Fine Arts Review, DAP, Warsaw
2001 – “The Argonauts of the Third Republic,” Museum of the History of the Polish People’s Movement, Warsaw
1998 – Darmstadt House, Płock (solo exhibition)
1997 – Municipal Cultural Center, Radom
1994 – Post-competition exhibition of the National Competition “Days of Fighting Warsaw” on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, Polish Army Museum, Warsaw
1992 – “Warsaw Art Decade,” DAP, Warsaw
1990 – Post-competition exhibition of the National Olympic Competition, Museum of Sport, Warsaw
1982 – “Exposition des Artistes Polonais,” Galerie Atelier2, Paris – La Défense, France
1979 – 6th National Post-Competition Exhibition of Graphic Art, BWA, Łódź
1979 – 7th International Sports Biennial, Barcelona, Spain
1976 – “Interdebiut ’76,” International Student Graphic Arts Review, Kraków
1975 – 3rd Biennale Internationale de L’Image, France

Works in the collections of the Polish Army Museum, the Museum of the History of the Polish People’s Movement, and in private collections in Poland and abroad (France, Italy, USA).

Awards and distinctions:

In the 1980s, he received several awards in poster competitions.

1980 – Paris. Honorable mention in the International Competition for graphics for the UNESCO calendar
1980 – Moscow. Honorable mention in the International Olympic Poster Competition
1990 – 3rd prize for drawing in the National Olympic Competition in Warsaw
1994 – 2nd prize for painting in the National Art Competition marking the 50th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising.