Jacek Rykała

Jacek Rykała is a full professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland, where he heads the Painting Studio. He served as the university's vice-rector from 2005 to 2012. Internationally renowned for over 70 solo exhibitions and 300 collective shows across Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, France, Norway, the USA, Italy, and Hungary, his works reside in major institutions like the National Museum in Kraków and private collections globally. A multidisciplinary artist, he also directed plays such as House Destined for Demolition (2005) and Cool Mornings (2012) at Silesian and Zagłębie Theatres.

His art explores existential themes through Silesian urban landscapes, blending painting, collage, and found objects to evoke memory, melancholy, and the 'mythography' of post-industrial spaces. Scholars like Agata Bielik-Robson and Roman Lewandowski have analyzed his work, linking it to philosophical concepts of time, identity, and the 'black sun' of melancholy. His 2016 book Rzeczy nieważne, wydarzenia błahe (text + artwork) and nine television documentaries further cement his cultural impact.

• Gloria Artis Silver Medal (2011)
• Silesian Voivodeship Marshal's Annual Award
• Silesian Scientific Award (2018)

Over a dozen master's theses have been written about his work. Collaborations in theater (e.g., set design for Dairy [2007]) and participation in Art Cologne, Art Frankfurt, and other international art fairs highlight his interdisciplinary influence.