Ryszard Winiarski

Ryszard Winiarski (1936–2006)
A Mathematician of Emotions in the World of Geometry
Ryszard Winiarski was an artist who made randomness and probability the main protagonists of his works, redefining the boundaries between art and science.

Technique and Approach:
In his work, he combined constructivism with the theory of chance. The artist developed a mathematical system for generating visual forms, which he consistently applied in his art. His pieces are based on binary systems, grids, algorithms, and randomness—phenomena that seem cold and impersonal at first glance. Yet, within the ordered structures of black and white lies a paradoxically strong emotionality: a tension between order and chaos, between control and fate. Winiarski created “programmed paintings” where form resulted from mathematical rules—not to suppress intuition, but to filter it through intellectual discipline.

Life and Context:
An engineer by education, an artist by passion—Winiarski redefined the concept of conceptual art in Poland. He studied in Warsaw and quickly gained international recognition, representing Poland at the São Paulo Biennale in 1971. For years, he was associated with the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, where he influenced new generations of artists. In 1995, he received the Jan Cybis Award.

Why is he relevant today?
In an age where artificial intelligence and algorithms shape our lives, his art gains a new dimension. Winiarski was a forerunner of what we now call generative art—but with a human soul and philosophical depth. His works are held in the collections of Poland’s most important museums (including the Museum of Art in Łódź and the National Museum in Kraków). His pieces are increasingly sought after on the collectors’ market—as part of both modern private and corporate collections.

Joanna Piotrowska - Art Advisor & Marszand