Kolacz’s paintings are at once challenging and sensual, presenting rich abstractions with a sense of form and dimension.  He clearly rejects style and narrative technique for a more expressive shaping of essence.  The control of his pallet is masterful and luscious which has influenced his work as a graphic artist. 

Born in 1938, Kolacz graduated from the Academy of Fine Art, Warsaw in 1962.  Since 1963, his work has been exhibited extensively throughout Europe, North America and Asia. Widely recognized, Kolacz has been the recipient of numerous awards for his paintings and graphic work, including election to the Royal Canadian Academy of Fine Art.

“Art has become more politicized than ever before. I say: more, because politics has always tried - and often successfully - to exercise control over the artist and his work, to harness them to a utilitarian system of its objectives. Art was turned then into a mere instrument, a means to achieve an end. To this day this dependence is subtler, less transparent, but it does exist. We have to be aware of it. You ask whether the artist still holds a privileged position, in other words, whether he is still perceived as a moral authority, a spiritual leader, a codifier of norms of behavior or even of life's goals. In my opinion, art speaks today in a muted voice. It’s appreciated by those who want to listen to it. But I wouldn't consider it too much of a problem. I just believe that genuine value will survive in any conditions, even in the postmodernist chaos of mass culture. Art is vital for us because it prevents stagnation, disturbs in the positive sense of the word, boosts the need for self discovery, so immensely important today, in this era of electronic images lulling our consciousness.” - JK

(From Edward Zyman's interview with Jerzy Kolacz)

Selected Exhibitions

2004         Londsdale Gallery, Toronto, Canada

2003         Artbank Gallery, London, England

2002         Shanghai Center for Decentralized Arts, Shanghai, China

2001         Glass Garage Gallery, West Hollywood, CA, USA

2000         Gallery 7, Toronto, Canada

1998         Gallery 7, Toronto, Canada

1998         Meg Gallery, Toronto, Canada

1998         Gallery Pekao, Toronto, Canada

1997         Center of Contemporary Art, Studio Gallery, Warsaw, Poland

1996         Gallery 7, Bombay, India

1996         Gallery 7, Toronto, Canada

1996         Gallery 7, Toronto, Canada

1995         Gallery 7, Toronto, Canada

1994         Gallery 7, Toronto, Canada

1993         Paas Gallery, New York, USA

1992         Ahnulund Gallery, Umea, Sweden

1992         Pekao Gallery, Toronto, Canada

1991         13 Muz Gallery, Szczecin, Poland

1991         Pekao Gallery, Toronto, Canada

1990         Gallery Exhibit, West Berlin, Germany

1990         Gallery Capricorn, West Berlin, Germany

1988         Reactor Gallery, Toronto, Canada

1987         Yaneff Gallery, Toronto, Canada

1986         "The mind's Eye", Glendon Gallery, Toronto, Canada

1986         Gallery General, Umea, Sweden

1986         Yaneff Gallery, Toronto, Canada

1984         Yaneff Gallery, Toronto, Canada

1982         Polish Institute of Art, New York, USA

1981         Gallery Blue, Stockholm, Sweden

1980         Yaneff Gallery, Toronto, Canada

1980         Gallerie Eklunds, Umea, Sweden

1980         Gallerie Fenix, Orebro, Sweden

1978         Sundswall Museum, Sundswall, Sweden

1978         Town Gallery, Lulea, Sweden

Selected Canadian Collections

MacLean Hunter Publishing

Swiss Bank of Canada

Erickson & Associates

American Express, Canada

Xerox, Canada

Chris Yaneff, Ltd