TITLE: Strong Hand
ARTIST: WALDEMAR SWIERZY

WALDEMAR SWIERZY
Waldemar Swierzy’s innovative – and often controversial – work captured the art
world’s attention and cast him at the center of an exciting, evolving movement
in graphic art during the latter part of the 20th century. Figuring prominently in a
movement that advocated a revolutionary shift in medium from traditional painting
to avant-garde poster-making early in his career, his art-making led to the
establishment of the First International Poster Biennial in his native Warsaw, and
soon afterward, the world’s first poster museum opened its doors in the city.
One of the most prolific artists of his generation, Swierzy graduated from the Krakow
Academy of Fine Arts in the early 1950s, and his early work was created for cultural
and public events – film, theatre, circuses and music performances – that were
popular and for which promoters demanded graphics to advertise them. There
were years when Swierzy was working on a major commission every week, and
often had to decline new job offers.

His work continues to freely represent the pure, sophisticated images of the Sixties to
Pop art, abstracts, surrealism, collage and photographic techniques. Whether he
uses tempera, gouaches, pastels, watercolors or crayons, the artist’s work is known
for its painterly quality, technique and composition, as well as its originality and
feeling of spontaneity. “Swierzy’s works are always fresh, easy and entertaining,”
wrote fellow artist Niklaus Troxler in the book, Swierzy. “They are full of a joy of life,
humor and optimism…and there is no end to the approaches Swierzy introduces.”
Swierzy’s lifelong love of music, for example, led to his celebrated portraits of
American jazz legends. “I enjoy doing jazz musicians, because I have always
been fascinated with this style of music,” Swierzy says. “I am so impressed at
how jazz progressed from street music to the speakeasies and now is considered
an equal to classical music, all within approximately 100 years. This is why I have
chosen to create … these talented musicians. Listening to their works of art has
given me real pleasure.” S2 Art Group’s Jazz Greats collection features Swierzy’s
hand-signed and numbered lithographs.

The artist’s fascination with the notorious figure of the Chicago gangster led to his
creation of the Mobster collection. The newest editions, “The Last Supper” and
“Poker Face” are ironic commentaries on the work of the great master Leonardo
da Vinci.

Swierzy’s exhibition schedule has brought him recently to the S2 Art Group Galleries
in Chicago and Las Vegas, and he will have upcoming shows at two Jack Gallery
locations, in Las Vegas and Monterey. Swierzy’s many honors have included
prestigious gold medals in the Polish Poster Biennale and Hollywood Reporter’s Key
Art Awards for his movie designs. In addition, his artwork has been shown in
international exhibitions, including the Smithsonian Institute’s Traveling Exhibition.
S2 Art Group is pleased to exclusively represent Waldemar Swierzy for his
hand-signed limited edition lithographs and paintings.