In December 2022, Limited Edition Gallery opened a new decade of activity by launching a series of paintings by Józef Wilkoń entitled Wilkoń after the Academy. The Wilkoń series after the Academy is a collection of oil paintings created between 1956 and 1958. Jozef Wilkoń painted them after graduating from the St. Michael’s Academy of Fine Arts. Jan Matejko in Krakow, where they had their first exhibition. Another, after restoration by the Master, only six decades later. These are the only existing oil paintings on canvas ever created. These works have never before been available on the art market. Eight works from this series were presented as part of the Ten in Ten anniversary exhibition. Their purchase is possible only at the Limited Edition Gallery. Other objects from that period will be included in the collection of the Józef Wilkoń Museum of Contemporary Art in Piaseczno, which is currently under construction. Due to the technique and age, the works are absolutely unique.
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Ten out of ten
Appendix of the exhibition: Józef Wilkoń, Wilkoń after the Academy.
Opening: December 12, 6:30 pm, Old Orangery at the Royal Baths.
Exposure: 13.12.2022- 16.03.2023, Atelier Limited Edition (by telephone appointment).
Limited Edition Gallery is opening a new decade of activity with the launch of a series of paintings by Józef Wilkoń, titled “A series of paintings”. Wilkoń after the Academy.
The Wilkoń series after the Academy is a collection of oil paintings created between 1956 and 1958. Józef Wilkoń painted them after graduating from the St. Michael’s Academy of Fine Arts. Jan Matejko in Krakow, where they had their first exhibition. Another, after restoration by the Master, only six decades later. These are the only existing oil paintings on canvas ever created. Until now, these works have not been available on the art market. A presentation of eight paintings selected from this series is underway as part of the Ten in Ten anniversary exhibition. Their purchase is possible only through the Limited Edition Gallery. The remaining objects will be included in the collection of the Józef Wilkoń Museum of Contemporary Art in Piaseczno, which is currently under construction.
Due to the technique and age, the works are absolutely unique.
In 1955, with a diploma in my pocket, I went from Krakow to Warsaw to see the capital decorated by Henryk Tomaszewski and Wojciech Fangor for the world youth rally. Or rather, not so much a rally, although the streets looked impressive for the time, but to visit a friend on Hoża Street. The door was opened to me by a blue-eyed girl named Margaret. After two weeks of acquaintance, I settled on 39 Hoza Street, where the paintings shown here were created. This was at the end of the 1950s. These are figures created out of an infatuation with the art of Paul Klee and, through profile shots, ancient Egypt. I admit that everywhere I look ancient Greece sounds: Icarus in his dreams of flying, Aristophanes’ birds. Interestingly, Andrzej Osęka noted this in his first review of my exhibition. I have always said humbly that we here on the soil of Europe are disciples of the Greeks. I go back to the 1950s. I was painting because Gretel was earning a living by selling totlot tickets at the kiosk. Today, when I look at these images, I am overcome with emotion. They came into existence because of her. I was able to find a job, and I also had a degree in art history. But Margaret decided otherwise, to quote her words: “You’re a painter, to be one, you have to paint. It will pay for itself someday.” For these words, I dedicate the exhibition to the memory of Malgosia Jagoszewska, as that was her name before she became Wilkoniowa.
~ Józef Wilkoń