August 1, 2023 – August 31, 2023
Krzysztof Marchlak presents 12 photographs presenting artists from Krakow in the city’s public spaces.
On illuminated billboards in central Krakow locations we present a selection of photographs by Krzysztof Marchlak from the series Art Is Me. These are portraits of Krakow’s painters of different generations.
Krzysztof Marchlak meets up with the artists in their studios and during those encounters in collaboration with the artist he builds up a stage set – consisting of their works of art – for the photograph. The painters position themselves against this backdrop. It is in dialogue with their own work that their portraits emerge, highly expressive and saturated with meaning.
The photographs bring each of the figures and their temperaments to life in an unusual way. They have a painterly quality, their composition, colour and light drawing on the works of the old masters.
The project highlights to Krakow’s painting community, telling the stories of local artists, whom he brings closer to both the city’s residents and tourists, encouraging discussion of the creative process. Another aim of the presentation is also promotion of photography as an important medium for contemporary art.
The portrayed artists: Tomek Baran, Dawid Czycz, Kamil Kukla, Agata Kus, Piotr Lutyński, Krzysztof Marchlak, Kinga Nowak, Justyna Smoleń, Beata Stankiewicz, Witold Stelmachniewicz, Zuzanna Szary, Małgorzata Wielek
Curator: Delfina Jałowik
The exhibition is part of the Creative Scholarship of the Mayor of the City of Krakow 2023.
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Malgorzata Wielek -
Kamil Kukla -
Dawid Czycz -
Kinga Nowak
Krzysztof Marchlak (1987) – photographer and painter, who also creates objects and artistic installations. Assistant professor at the Faculty of Art of the Pedagogical University in Krakow. In his photography he has been portraying the Krakow communities of actors, visual artists and LGBTQ people. He is interested in social issues concerning minorities, portraiture and the narrative nature of still life. He received the Director’s Award of the Toruń photographic competition Exhibit Yourself at the CCA 2022, as part of which he presented a solo exhibition Beautiful Escapes (2023). He works closely with UFO Art Gallery, Shefter Gallery, Night Art Patrol and The Little Black Gallery. He periodically publishes his work in the international queer photography magazine “BOYS! BOYS! BOYS!”