“…The essence of my creativity is to create a certain magic. The magic of color, a certain mood. Although color can bring out not a colorful object but create an atmosphere. I deviate from the literalness of the object and literalness in general. I start with content assumptions but primarily focus on form. I never get to the point where I start dissecting details. For me, the picture is a whole…”
Witold Pałka was born on November 5, 1928, in Dąbrówka Mała in Upper Silesia, and passed away on August 29, 2013, in Katowice. Since 1945, he attended the High School of Fine Arts in Krakow, and in 1947, he was admitted to the Painting Department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. He studied under the guidance of Eugeniusz Eibisch, Jerzy Fedkowicz, and Wacław Taranczewski. He graduated in 1953. In the same year, he became a member of the Association of Polish Artists and Designers (ZPAP) in the Katowice District. He served on the Board of the District and chaired the Artistic Council of the Painting Section. From 1965 to 1967, he was a member of the Arkat group. From 1966 to 1980, he collaborated with the Commission of Architecture and Sacred Art of the Katowice Diocese. He was primarily engaged in oil painting, watercolor, and mural painting. He has numerous works of sacred art in the Katowice Diocese and elsewhere to his credit. His paintings were exhibited in many solo exhibitions in Katowice, Krakow, and Warsaw, as well as in Switzerland and Germany, and in numerous group exhibitions, both in Poland and abroad.
He is the recipient of many awards: the Silver Medal “Merit to Culture Gloria Artis” – 2008; Grand Prix in the Nationwide Competition for Painting under the auspices of the UN for the painting “Theater” – 1997; Gold Badge of ZPAP, Katowice – 1980; Gold Cross of Merit for artistic activity – 1976; 2nd prize at the Exhibition of the Katowice District of ZPAP for the painting “Lemki”; Provincial Award for artistic creativity – 1969; 1st and 2nd prize in the Man and Work competition, Katowice – 1968; Provincial Award for artistic creativity, 2nd prize ex aequo in the Man and Environment competition – 1965; 2nd prize in the Silesia in Plastic Arts competition, WAG, BWA, ZPAP, Katowice – 1963; 1st and 2nd prize in the Silesia in Painting competition, ZPAP, BWA, Katowice – 1963.
Opening 7 March 2024, 6pm
