Xawery Wolski. On the Road

The fascinating biography of Xawery Wolski became the inspiration for the exhibition On the Road, which we will present this summer at the State Art Gallery in Sopot.

For 30 years, the artist traveled and lived across different continents. Educated in Poland, France, and New York, he emigrated from Poland in the mid-1980s. He first moved to Provence, then to Peru, and later to Mexico, where he spent 23 years. He also traveled and created works in Asian countries including Thailand, Vietnam, India, Birma, Indonesia, and South Korea.

The experiences of a nomadic artist, along with his exploration and understanding of many cultures and traditions, shaped his art. In his practice, he combines sculpture, installation, drawing, textile art, and photography. He works with marble, terracotta, bronze, silk, and wool, as well as such unconventional materials as bread, seeds, plant stems, and silicone. In search of a spiritual path of existence and creation, he stayed several times in Buddhist monasteries. His drawings in particular, often created over many hours, take on the character of a meditative artistic practice.

The search for new stimuli, materials, and inspirations has resulted in more than 80 solo exhibitions and public-space realizations, including in Lima, Shanghai, Miami, and at the Hestia roundabout in Sopot. The sculpture Echo, located there, refers to the poetic story of the unhappy love of the Greek nymph Echo for Narcissus. The artist is also connected with Sopot through his participation in the international exhibition Glasstress Sopot, remembered as an exceptionally beautiful presentation of glass works by outstanding artists from around the world. Among them, we exhibited two glass jellyfish created by Xawery Wolski during a residency at the prestigious studio of the Fondazione Berengo on Murano.

Several years ago, the artist returned to Poland, settling in his family’s eighteenth-century estate in Dańków. Together with his partner, the poet Nora Carrillo,  they created a place that combines Old Polish traditions with the vibrant culture of Mexico and contemporary art. A Sculpture Park was established there, where among centuries-old trees and former farm buildings transformed into exhibition spaces, the artist presents his sculptures. 

Recently, the art of Xawery Wolski has been presented in several major solo exhibitions in Orońsko, Łódź, and Lublin. The presentation in Sopot includes dozens of sculptures, installations, and drawings that reveal the diversity of his work and the influence of various cultural traditions.

The exhibition is accompanied by a specially prepared catalogue.

Curator: Eulalia Domanowska

Partner: LETO Gallery

Patron: La Squadra