Jacek Yerka, WATER FOR MARSA, 2024.

49,0 x 59,0 cm - pastel, paper glued on cardboard 49 x 59 cm - dimensions in light passe-partout

signed p.d.: YERKA 24



I don't know why mankind necessarily wants to get to Mars; air there is scarce, permanent sandstorms, the sun doesn't warm, it's frighteningly cold and dry. But I want to help. Just with this image. On it I propose a novel solution to two problems: drinking water and transportation (by water the cheapest). I also warn of the dangers of predatory Martian fauna and explain where the canals came from. NASA should definitely hire me.

Jacek Yerka



Jacek Yerka (Toruń 1952, lives near Toruń) graduated in 1976 from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. He specialized in graphic design. During his studies, he took part in many competitions devoted to poster art, including those celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Polish Hunting Association (1st prize), the so-called Rebirth Festival (1st prize), the Toronto Olympics, the 50th anniversary of LOT, or advertising "Społem". Soon after receiving his diploma, he won third prize at the Biennale of Polish Posters in Katowice (1979). At that time he also made his mark on the international scene. In 1978 he won a competition under the theme "Palestine- homeland denied" organized by the Iraqi Cultural Center in London, and a year later for a poster promoting the development of public transportation in Milan. His works were exhibited at the International Sports Biennale in Barcelona (1980, 3rd prize), the International Poster Biennale in Warsaw (1981, 3rd prize) and the Poster Biennale in Lahti (1983, 3rd prize). In the early years of his career, the artist rarely created paintings, including for the Jan Spychalski painting competition in Poznan (twice, 3rd prize). After 1980, he abandoned poster art and devoted himself entirely to painting. Relying on a precise pictorial technique based on the old masters (Jan van Eyck, Hieronymus Bosch), but above all on his own boundless imagination, he creates surreal compositions, especially admired by lovers of fantasy in all varieties. Among other things, he inspired fantasy author Harlan Ellison to write 30 short stories, which, along with the artist's paintings, made up the publication titled "The Mind Fields. "Mind Fields," which won the 1995 World Fantasy Award. The success of the album led to an exhibition in Los Angeles in 1998 at the Beverly Hills Gallery. The same publishing house - "Morpheus International" - released the album "The Fantastic Art of Jacek Yerka." The artist also collaborated in the production of the American film "Strawberry Fields", where the paintings were to be accompanied by the music of the Beatles. The works of the artist - a respected representative of the fantastic trend - are in many Polish and foreign private collections. Jacek Yerka's exhibitions took place abroad (including Germany, France, USA.) and at home - in OdNowa Gallery in Poznań (1975), Grażyna Hase Gallery in Warsaw (1980, 1982), Alicja and Bożena Wahl Art Gallery (1990), Hotel Filmar in Toruń (2016), DA Agra-Art (2021).