Jan Berdyszak (1934–2014)
Painter, Sculptor, and Art Theorist
Technique: Berdyszak combined painting with sculpture, creating spatial installations and objects. His works often explored the relationships between form and space.
Breakthrough: His work was repeatedly awarded, including the Jan Cybis Award in 1978.
Artistic Life: Berdyszak was also an educator and art theorist, influencing the development of younger generations of artists.
Trivia: The artist was actively involved in Poznań’s art scene, organizing exhibitions and cultural events.
For Today: His works remain an important reference point in discussions about the relationship between painting and sculpture, offering new perspectives on spatial artistic forms.
Joanna Piotrowska - Art Advisor & Marszand
Jan Berdyszak was a Polish painter, sculptor, graphic artist, installation artist, set designer, pedagogue, and art theorist. His art is characterized by an analytical and scientific approach, realized in thematic cycles exploring various philosophical and spatial concepts. He was a professor and pro-rector at the University of Fine Arts in Poznań.
Born in Zawory, Poland, in 1934, Berdyszak studied sculpture at the Higher School of Fine Arts in Poznań (1952–1958) and began working there as faculty from 1965. His early artistic career included painting, sculpture, and experimental artistic installations aimed at overcoming traditional art forms.
He developed works closed in thematic cycles, revisiting topics with varying versions and expansions. His focus included the concept of space as a primary entity, as well as density, emptiness, transparency, and potentiality. He sought to leave reality as it is, avoiding 'creating' even in art, emphasizing the uniqueness of situations.
Key cycles include 'Double Circles' (1962–64), 'Circle Compositions' (1963–67), 'Transparent' (1970–79), 'Reserved Places' (1973–76), 'Infinity' (1975–77), 'Cross Beams' (1977–88), and later photographic reinstallations and installations. He worked with painting, graphics, sculpture, installation art, and intermedia performances.
Berdyszak worked in set design for theatres from 1961–1981 and held the position of pro-rector at the University of Fine Arts in Poznań between 1984 and 1987. His work was exhibited widely in Poland and internationally and included in museums and private collections.
Polish
art theorist, Graphic Artist, Graphics, installation artist, Painter, Sculptor, set designer
space, density, darkness, emptiness, transparency, potentiality, sacrum, spacetime, infinity, morality, artistic reflection
Prestigious Polish award given for significant achievement in painting.
Polish state order recognizing outstanding achievements.
Academic recognition for contributions to art and pedagogy.
Higher class of the Order of Polonia Restituta for cultural contributions.
