Franciszek STAROWIEYSKI(1930-2009), Nude with a moth

Pencil, crayon, paper; 26 x 20 in p-p 40 x 35 cm
Signed p. d: F. Starowieyski/ 1681
framed work; museum glass

Studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow in the studio of Wojciech Weiss and Adam Marczyński (1949-1952), and then at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw in the studio of Michał Bylina, where he received his diploma in 1955. He is also known under the pseudonym Jan Byk.
Graphic artist, painter and stage designer. He used rich ornamentation and had an individual system of signs, in which he often brought the motif of passing to the fore. One of the "cult" Polish contemporary artists. He was the author of numerous theatrical and film posters, such as J. Kilty's Ides of March (1968), Family Life (1971) and Illumination (1973) by Krzysztof Zanussi, T. Różewicz's White Marriage, J. Osborne's Portrait of Dorian Gray, as well as book graphics, including illustrations for Stanislaw Dygat's Carnival (1968), set designs for theaters and television - from artistic graphics to oil and wall paintings.
He created an original surrealist-grotesque style of artistic expression. His work is characterized by great fantasy, momentum, sensuality, fascination with the human body and death, and precise technique.
He was the originator and realizer of the performances of the Drawing Theater during which large-scale compositions were created before the eyes of the audience. A connoisseur and collector of art, mainly 17th century art.
For a number of years he created alternately in studios in Warsaw and Paris. He created more than 300 posters and is considered one of the most prominent representatives of the "Polish poster school."
The artist is the protagonist of Andrzej Papuzinski's film Bull Glory. He also played as an actor in the films of Andrzej Wajda (Danton) and Krzysztof Zanussi (The Structure of the Crystal). He has participated in more than 200 exhibitions at home and abroad, including: Austria, Belgium, France, Holland, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, USA, Italy. He was the first Pole to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.