Karol Bąk, A TWILIGHT STORY, 2015

50 x 60 cm - oil on canvas

signed lower right: BK [interlaced monogram] | BĄK
on the reverse, on the upper stretcher bar: KAROL BĄK and on the lower stretcher bar: “OPOWIEŚĆ ZMIERZCHU” 2015


He graduated from the High School of Fine Arts in Poznań and received a diploma in interior design. In 1984, he began his studies at the Department of Graphic Arts at the State Higher School of Fine Arts (now the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznań). He graduated in 1989 with two diplomas with honors, one in graphic arts under Professor Tadeusz Jackowski and one in drawing in the studio of Professor Jarosław Kozłowski. For his graphic art, he received the “Dyplom 89” award in Toruń, and a year later he took first place in the “21st Post-Competition Exhibition for the Best Graphic Art and Drawing of the Year for the Jan Wroniecki Medal.”
Over the course of more than a decade, Karol Bąk painted several hundred oil paintings, which constitute the largest part of his artistic oeuvre. In addition to these, he also created prints, ink drawings, pastel portraits, pencil sketches, and wall frescoes. His most popular series of paintings include “Sailing Ships,” “Dialogues,” “Cocoons,” “Haloes,” “The Four Elements,” “Judith and Salome,” “Prima Mobilia,” as well as “Nocturnes” inspired by the music of Frédéric Chopin, created to mark the Year of Chopin in 2010.
Since 1988, the artist has held over a dozen solo exhibitions and participated in several dozen group exhibitions. Among the latter are, among others, Polish Surrealists (Warsaw 2008), ART.-EXPO (New York, Las Vegas 2008), Primavera (Rotterdam, Netherlands 2008 and 2009), The Charm of Women. The Allure of Flowers (Sopot 2009), Magical Dreams (Włocławek, 2011), Art Revolution Taipei (Taipei, Taiwan, 2012 and 2013), ARTEUOMO (Rome, Italy, 2012), and Magical Dreams II (Szczyrk, 2013). His works have also inspired students at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, who designed their own creations based on the outfits depicted in his paintings. He has participated in international open-air art events both in Poland and abroad, including in Segovia, Spain.