Jubilee – 40 years
The former Kantorek Gallery, now Municipal Gallery bwa, has been close to Stanisław Stasiulewicz since 1990. It was in this space that he presented many works from series such as: “Obrazy Bydgoskie” (Bydgoszcz Paintings), “Obrazy Jass-ne” (Jass-light Paintings), “Obrazy Piękne” (Beautiful Paintings), “Obrazy Nowe” (New Paintings It was therefore impossible to organise such an important anniversary exhibition for the 40th anniversary of the artist’s work elsewhere. Due to the small, intimate space, we were only able to present a limited number of works – a very difficult choice given the skyrocketing number of works the artist has in his collection. Selected for the exhibition are a dozen paintings from the beginning of his career, as well as contemporary prints and videos that the artist is increasingly and boldly creating. In the anniversary catalogue, however, we will be able to take a broader look at the artist’s entire oeuvre.
Stanisław Stasiulewicz creates his work in a variety of techniques, on small, as well as large formats, using every kind of underlay – from canvas to cardboard.
His painting is very expressive, and the most important thing is the act of painting itself. Here, the first colour patch put on the canvas inspires another and another… When painting his pictures, the artist uses any tool freely, be it brush or hand. The painterly composition is often combined with a linear openwork drawing applied to the surface of the painting. This treatment allows for a freer composition, achieving the impression of a double plane on the canvas, adding depth and three-dimensionality to the image.
For some time now, the artist has been inspired by new media, which offer many possibilities in terms of technology as well as ideas. He is therefore increasingly creating in a technique that is new to him. His applied reliefs, intense colour patches or linear strokes on a previously photographed landscape or still life allow him to quickly change the painting plane and add new elements to the photograph. With this technique, it is easy for the artist to transfer his thoughts to the composition and change them quickly at any time.
An apparent abstract way of thinking and an attempt to freeze time in colour and line, but at the same time drawing motifs from his immediate surroundings, from real life – this connects all his works that will be on display at the exhibition.

Karolina Rybka

Stanisław Stasiulewicz, artist – born 13.12.1955 in Ashmyany (Grodno region). He arrived in Bydgoszcz as a repatriate with his family in 1958. Studied at the Faculty of Easel Painting in the Prof. Jan Szancenbach studio in the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków (diploma in 1983). Since 1985, he’s been actively participating in the artistic life of Bydgoszcz. He has worked with the Kruchta Gallery, the Galeria Autorska J. Kaja and J. Soliński, the now-defunct Trytony Club, and since 1990, he has been associated with the Kantorek Gallery (today the Municipal Gallery bwa in Bydgoszcz). In 1990, together with Krzysztof Gruse and Zbigniew Zieliński, founded the Szkoła Bydgoska art group. From 1993 to 1999, he was the president of the board of the Bydgoszcz District of the Association of Polish Artists. In 1994, holder of the scholarship of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation in New York. In 2010 he was awarded the Cross of Merit for Polish Culture and the Gold Badge of the Association of Polish Artists. Between 2012 and 2014 he co-founded, on behalf of the Association of Polish Artists, the WSPÓLNA Gallery. Between 2014 and 2015, he co-founded an art venue called Bydgoska Poradnia Sztuki (Bydgoszcz Art Clinic), located in Nowy Rynek St., together with the painter Anna Mackiewicz-Chojnacka (the Association of Polish Artists). In 2015 Award of the President of Bydgoszcz for 30 years of creative work. Between 2016 and 2017, he carried out the tasks of exhibitions and education at Kamienica 12. For almost 20 years, he has been teaching at the “mega-Art” Occupational Therapy Workshop and building the Bydgoszcz-based art brut formation, the “Reflexionists” art group. He has had around 50 exhibitions in Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Warsaw, Toruń and Kraków. His works can be found in the collections of the MOB in Bydgoszcz, institutions and home collections (including those of Mr and Mrs Tomaszewski, Mr and Mrs Sadkiewicz and Mr Brzezicki).

Begining 09.12.2022, godz. 18.00
Gdańska St. 3
End 28.01.2023