Rafal Olbinski (b. 1943), American Airlines - advertising campaign, 1980s.

acrylic, cardboard; 37.2 x 26.5 cm;
Signed p. d.: Olbinski ;
on the reverse:
- inscription: 'American Airlines' ;
- stamp: RAFAL OLBINSKI / represented by: [details and address];
- numeral 8 [in circle].

Provenance
private collection, Warsaw

Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist.

A unique composition by one of the most internationally recognized Polish contemporary artists. The master poster painter-surrealist gained recognition with his elaborate, metaphorical paintings of fairy-tale narrative. The artist's original compositional arrangements, bravura imagination, technical prowess and freedom in creating the space of his paintings, as well as his fantasy-noir stylistics, brought him great popularity. Olbinski emigrated to the United States in the early 1980s, where his illustration and painting skills were also recognized. This is evidenced by his collaboration with such prestigious magazines as Time, Newsweek and institutions: American Airlines, New York City Opera and others. The offered work is a composition created for one of the largest airlines there. Hence the references to American symbolism are not surprising. The baseball player and the shadow of the airplane over the luscious green turf of the field, are meant to show the quintessential American style. The painting deviates somewhat from the artist's recognizable style, which accounts for its originality. There is definitely more realism here than poeticism, although the artist still builds the composition of the work in a subtle and imaginative way. The period of the painting's creation is also worth noting. The 1980s ushered in a time of change and intense artistic development for Rafal Olbinski.