Jan Bajtlik, Jardin Particulier, 2018, Acryl auf Papier, 100x140cm
Jan Bajtlik’s exhibition shows the artist’s fascination with the origins of contemporary visual culture, which he traces in European antiquity, in the invention of writing and in Far Eastern calligraphy and landscape painting. Most of the works on display are from four groups of works: the cycle “Greek Labyrinths” (2016-2017), refined drawings published in the volume “The Ariadne Thread”, a series of studies on the iconography of Greek antiquity (2017), the cycle “Jardin Particulier I” (2018), which illustrates the fluid transition between the representational nature of the still life and abstraction, and the most recent works, which are being exhibited publicly for the first time. Characteristic of Jan Bajtlik’s work is the renunciation of a clear demarcation between foreground and background and the resulting play with the viewer’s eye. Bajtlik’s black and white paintings demonstrate his extraordinary talent for creating pulsating rhythms, which, although composed in different densities, always capture the viewer’s eye and direct it to the detail.
Jan Bajtlik (born in 1989 in Warsaw) is multidisciplinary artist working on fields of illustration, graphic design, painting and drawing. He graduated from the Graphic Arts Faculty at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw (2013).
Since 2016 he has been working creating designs for Hermès Paris for silk scarves, fashion accessories, enamel jewellery, boutique windows scenography and Hermès Home: ceramics, fabrics, wallpapers, beachwear. He is co-author of the scenography for the reopening of Hermès boutique in the Dubai Mall and the graphic identification of Hermès Fantasty Funfair in Dubai.
His projects represents various design approach, styles and techniques. He illustrated among others: The New York Times, Time Magazine, Courrier International, Google. His works were exhibited worldwide. Jan received numerous awards in national and international graphic competitions, including a special mention Bologna Ragazzi Award 2015, silver medal at the 10th and bronze medal at the 12th International Poster Triennial in Toyama (Japan). In 2015 he received special award from Polish Minister of Culture for his children books and educational work with children. Book “Our Car” illustrated by Jan is The 2018 New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book. He cooperates with Szydłowski Gallery in Warsaw.
Jan is also ultramarathon runner and alpinist. He lives and works in Warsaw and Argentière in the French Alps.