Tomasz ZawadzkiView profile
Professor
Professor Tomasz Zawadzki is a distinguished painter and academic affiliated with the Faculty of Arts at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, where he serves as head of the Department of Painting and Drawing. Born in 1956 in Lublin, he has maintained a continuous academic and artistic career spanning nearly four decades at the university's Institute of Fine Arts. A member of the Lublin Society for the Promotion of Fine Arts, Professor Zawadzki has established himself as a significant figure in contemporary Polish art. His artistic practice centers on abstract painting, with particular focus on geometric abstraction and matter painting. Zawadzki's work demonstrates a profound engagement with color theory, texture, and spatial composition. Early works from the 1980s showed expressive qualities reminiscent of Art Informel, evolving over time toward more condensed compositions with refined color palettes and sophisticated textures. His artistic philosophy emphasizes the intrinsic qualities of painting itself - color, matter, and light - as fundamental elements that create a self-sufficient visual language without requiring external interpretation. Throughout his career, Zawadzki has organized nearly 50 solo exhibitions and participated in over 250 group exhibitions internationally. His recent work (2023-2024) demonstrates continued innovation within his established framework, exploring complex spatial relationships, refined color compositions, and conceptual approaches to painting as both object and sign. Major exhibitions like 'OBRRAZ' series, 'POSTPRIZMA/POSTPRISM,' and 'Subiektywny model czasu' showcase his ongoing contribution to contemporary art discourse. Selected Awards: Srebrny Krzyż Zasługi (2001) Nagroda Kulturalna Województwa Lubelskiego (2012) Nagroda Prezydenta Miasta Lublina (2012) Roczne Stypendium Twórcze Ministerstwa Kultury i Sztuki (1988) As an academic, Professor Zawadzki has mentored generations of art students at UMCS while maintaining an active exhibition schedule. His work is held in prestigious collections including the National Museum in Szczecin, National Museum in Gdańsk, Museum of Art in Łódź, and Museum of Contemporary Art in Radom. His artistic research explores the fundamental elements of painting as a self-sufficient language, investigating how color, texture, and composition create meaning without external references. Professor Zawadzki maintains close connections with Lublin's art institutions, particularly the Labirynt Gallery (formerly BWA Gallery), where he has exhibited since the late 1980s. His work remains deeply connected to the Lublin art scene while simultaneously engaging with international artistic dialogues through exhibitions across Europe and beyond.









