Zdzislaw Beksinski, one of the greatest polish artists of the last few decades. He was under-appreciated in his country, but thankfully loved all over the world.
Zdzisław Beksiński (24 February 1929 – 21 February 2005) was a Polish painter, photographer and sculptor, specializing in the field of dystopian surrealism. Beksiński did his paintings and drawings in what he called either a ‘Baroque’ or a ‘Gothic’ manner. His creations were made mainly in two periods.
The first period of work is generally considered to contain expressionistic color, with a strong style of “utopian realism” and surreal architecture, like a doomsday scenario. The second period contained more abstract style, with the main features of formalism.
Zdzislaw Beksinski Death
Beksiński was stabbed to death at his Warsaw apartment in February 2005 by a 19-year-old acquaintance from Wołomin. Reportedly because he refused to lend the teenager money. Many have been inspired by Beksiński’s art. In Poland, his works influenced many rock musicians, and lately the creators of the point and click adventure video game Tormentum.
View Zdzisław Beksiński Paintings
The noted Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro, who directed the Oscar-winning film Pan’s Labyrinth, is a known admirer of Beksiński’s works. A Polish film focusing on the family’s life after 1977, entitled Ostatnia Rodzina / The Last Family is set to premiere in 2016.