Leszek Sokol - Video


Born in Warsaw, Poland where he still resides today. Leszek Sokol has been a professional artist for 30 years. He graduated from the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts where he focused on interior design and graphic art. His passion for painting, however, eventually overruled his other artistic interests. His voyage of discovery of his own personal creative path has always been inspired by paintings from the European artists of the 14th to 17th centuries. His fascination with the 17th century paintings of the Dutch masters led him initially to paint still life compositions in the Dutch style. However, his constant study of the techniques of the old masters in general, led him more recent years to become completely entranced with the figurative works of the early Italian Renaissance, the influence of which can so readily be seen in this current body work.

His paintings are characterized by asymmetrical compositions, elongated figures, and a simple but monumental use of line. With a palette of richest, color-drenched burgundies, gold, greens and russets, Sokol places his elongated figures in surreal, enchanted landscapes that are physical interpretations of a dream world. His immediately recognizable figures float, fly, swing, and dance-carefree embodiments of emotions and desires in a joyous, magical, romantic world. The paintings encourage the viewer to return to, and make the most of, playful, unburdened, lighthearted times when laughter, love, and affection rule.

In attempting to define his work, the artist refers to his paintings as "metaphysical realism". In various reviews and publications, the works have been described as "highly intellectual and philosophical"; "brightened by an invisible source of light"; and "containing subjects of a deliciously distorted perspective".

In 2005, Sokol receive a significant grant from Poland's Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Since 1985, Leszek Sokol has been honored with 10 solo exhibitions in Poland, Germany, USA and has been represented in more than 30 group shows in museums, arts institutions and galleries throughout Poland, Germany, Italy, France, USA and Japan. In recent years Sokol has established an enthusiastic base of collectors through The Miller Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio.
I want my paintings to be a bridge between our dreams and the worl of the here and now. Each one of us has dreamed of an enchanted world at some time in our lives. I want these paintings to be a reminder to keep believein in dreams, to keep searching for one's passions, and to never miss a moment of life's joy and beauty, even if fleeting. No matter who we are and where we are from, we should always follow our hearts.
Solo Exhibitions:

• 1985 Poland: Warsaw, The Zamkowy Gallery

1987 Poland: Warsaw, The Zamkowy Gallery

1994 Germany: Deidesheim, City Hall

1995 Germany: Landau-Arheim, City Hall

1996 Poland: Warsaw, The Zamkowy Gallery

1997 Poland: Warsaw, The Zamkowy Gallery

1997 Germany: Hamburg

1998 Germany: Deidesheim, Deidesheim Art Galleries

2004 Poland: Warsaw, European Gallery

2006 Germany: Diedesheim, Werkstatt Gallery

2011 USA: Miller Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio, The Lightness of Being



Group Exhibitions:

2000 Japan: Kobe, Tokyo

2001 France: Clermant-Ferrand

2001 Japan: Kobe, Tokyo

2002 Japan: Kobe, Tokyo

2003 Italy: Katania, "Mostra Collettiva Di Arte Contemporanea Polacca", Di' Arte Moderna Ciminiere Gallery

2004 Italy: Bronte, "L'Arte Moderna Polacca", Castello Di Nelson Bronte

2004 Japan: Kobe, Tokyo

2004 Poland: Warsaw, BP Gallery

2005 Poland: Wroclaw, Katowice

2006/ 2008/ 2010 Poland: Wroclaw, City Museum of Wroclaw

2006/ 2008/ 2010 Poland: Rzeszow, Office Art Exhibitions

2006/ 2008/ 2010 Poland: Warsaw, Zacheta Gallery

2006/ 2008/ 2010 Poland: Poznan, Arsenal Gallery

2006/ 2008/ 2010 Poland: Katowice, Office Art Exhibitions

2006/ 2008/ 2010 Poland: Krakow, Palace of Art

2006 Poland, Warsaw, "Painting", The Conference Gallery

2007 Poland, Warsaw, "Painting", Hotel Hetman

2010 Poland, Warsaw, "Chopin", Hotel Le Regina

2011 USA: Knoxville, TN, "Art of Poland" University of Tennessee's Downtown Gallery
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