Most of the works on display come from the collection of the Museum in Sanok. However, there are also some (20 to be precise) which are very rarely shown to the public, as they are usually held in private collections. - In preparing the exhibition, we were keen to showcase the full spectrum of Zdzisław Beksiński's work - from photography and drawing to his late paintings, which, despite their formal restraint, retain an extraordinary emotional impact. This is art that does not offer a single interpretation but is a unique invitation to an intimate journey through a world of unbridled imagination, in which - in keeping with the artist's philosophy - meaning is meaningless; all that matters is a personal, profound emotional experience," says Magdalena Jaworska, Director of the Museum of Fantastic Art in Warsaw.

The exhibition will showcase the gems of Zdzisław Beksiński's painting, works representing both his most celebrated fantastical period, developed in the 1970s and early 1980s, and later works from the final decades of his artistic life. - I strongly recommend paying closer attention to the late works in the master's oeuvre, which may not be as popular, are more ascetic in content, yet are striking in their formal qualities. It is precisely in these works that Beksiński elevated his extraordinary craftsmanship to new heights, and these works have lost none of their expressiveness - despite being devoid of the rich array of props typically found in his staffage - says Jarosław Serafin, director of the Historical Museum in Sanok. In his view, a perfect example of such a beautiful work is the 2003 painting "RŁ', which showcases the artist's technical virtuosity. "But the artistic photographs, which are being rediscovered and constitute a separate, important chapter in Beksiński's creative output, also deserve special attention. It was precisely in this field that he achieved great success in the 1950s, and these works also served as a prelude to his extraordinary and rich artistic journey," says Serafin.

What should we look out for, and will any prior knowledge of Beksiński help us navigate the exhibition and understand his works? - Conceived as a comprehensive retrospective, the exhibition showcases Zdzisław Beksiński's intensely creative exploration, spanning 50 years of activity and encompassing various genres: from photography and drawing, through his most significant medium - painting - to digital works, explains the director of the Historical Museum in Sanok. - The exhibition presents us with a versatile and dynamic artist, one who experimented with form and subjected his art to constant, consistent evolution. Zdzisław Beksiński's art, in accordance with his artistic principles, is intended to evoke emotions and - as such - will certainly be a source of powerful impressions. At the same time, however, we must remember that the artist explicitly distanced himself from any meanings which, in his view, "had no significance' and distanced the viewer from the essence of things. Nevertheless, we feel a constant temptation to interpret these fascinating, metaphysical works, and I would encourage you not to feel any particular inhibitions about approaching the master's work in this way. Such a highly personal interpretation of Beksiński's work, and particularly his fantastical paintings - even if it runs counter to the artist's own artistic credo - certainly allows us to feel a stronger connection with his extraordinary art, he explains.

The event's promotional material states that Beksiński's return to our city is of particular significance, as it was in Poznań, in 1957, that the artist first presented his avant-garde photographs to a wide audience at the exhibition "A Step into Modernity'.

Monika Nawrocka-Leśnik

translator: Krzysztof Kotkowski

Exhibition "Beksiński in Poznań"
18.07-18.10; Poznań International Fair grounds, Hall 1A, ul. Głogowska 18
for more, see: Beksiński w Poznaniu  (available in Polish)

© Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2026