Zdzisław Beksiński

Zdzisław Beksiński – Polish painter & photographer, master of dystopian imagery

Sanok 1929 – Warsaw 2005

A self-taught artist, Zdzisław Beksiński established a prominent place in contemporary Polish art. He began his career with photography, later creating abstract metal reliefs and sculptures, and from the 1970s onwards, he concentrated almost exclusively on painting.

His distinctive, meticulously executed works depict post-apocalyptic visions filled with distorted figures and ghostly beings. Beksiński did not title his works, which underscores the intuitive nature of his creative process. In his later years, he experimented with digital graphics. His art evokes strong emotions and is part of many prestigious collections, including the Historical Museum in Sanok and the collection of Piotr Dmochowski, who supported his work in France. Permanent exhibitions of his work can be seen in Kraków and Warsaw.