50x37 cm, signed incograph, 2021
Rafal Olbinski was born on February 21, 1943 in Kielce. He was given the names Józef, Rafał and Feliks, while his real last name is Chałupka.
Rafal Olbinski is an internationally recognized painter. In 1981, after graduating in architecture at, he emigrated to the United States, where his artistic career began. He has received more than 150 awards for his work, including:
▪ In 1994, the Academy Award for Most Significant Poster.
▪ Prix Savignac in Paris.
▪ 1994 Creative Review magazine award in London for Best British Illustration.
▪ 1995 first prize in the "New York City Capital of the World" competition.
▪ 1996 Stephan Dohanos award for best work of the year by members of the Society of New York Illustrators
▪ 2002 "Premio Divina Guilia" award of the city of Fondi in Italy for outstanding contribution to contemporary art
▪ 2006 Gloria Artist gold medal from the President of Poland.
His works are in The National Arts Club in New York, the Smithsonian Institute and Library of Congres in Washington, D.C., the Suntory Museum in Osaka, as well as many private collections in the US, Japan and Europe.
Rafal Olbinski is undoubtedly one of the most internationally recognized Polish artists of his generation. His works delight art lovers especially in America, Europe and Japan.
Olbinski's paintings are preserved in the spirit of surrealism and fantastic realism. Each of his works is characterized by attention to detail, delicate modeling and extraordinary formal precision, plus they abound in symbols, forcing the viewer to interpret them. Observing the work of this artist, other great surrealists come to mind, including Rene Magritte, whose works, although preserved in a similar style, carry a decidedly less emotional charge than those of Olbinski. In addition to his excellent technique and deep, elaborate symbolism, the works of the Polish surrealist attract the eye with their purity and intensity of colors, while balancing them.
