Tadeusz Dorota
(1937 – 2005)
Painter, poster designer, graphic artist, stage designer.
About Artist
Born in Lvov and infatuated of this city, he settled down in Silesia, fell in love with Tatra Mountains which he painted continually.
He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, at the faculty of Graphic Art in Katowice, where in 1967 was awarded diploma in the studio of Prof. Jerzy Dudkiewicz.
The artist, being an individualist, relentlessly searched for his own means of expression. Technique played a special role in his painting. An innovation in textural application of paint heightens the sense of dread, mystery and natural beauty of the mountains.
The artist was fascinated by Tatra Mountains vast expanses that oscillated between abstraction and realism. The mountains transferred to canvas are rocky, dangerous, veiled in mist, in different seasons of the year. Sky constitutes an integral part of the landscape. Clouds painted in a reverent, precise manner resemble those from the landscape paintings of the English Romantic painter John Constable.
Oils paintings and watercolours sketched in the open air were transformed by the artist in his studio in big compositions. The very Tatra Mountains compositions constituted the most important and the most impressive chapter in his artistic creation, which started during his student outdoor painting workshops conducted regularly in the picturesque area of Zakopane – Harenda.
Throughout his career the artist painted Tatra Mountains with great passion.
During the golden age of Polish poster he participated:
- in the years 1968-70 in the annual Poster Exhibitions of the publishing house Wydawnictwo Artystyczno-Graficzne – WAG
- in 1970 in the 3rd Warsaw International Poster Biennial Event
- in 1971 – Silesia Poster – Sofia
- in 1972 in the All-Polish Poster Biennial Event in Katowice
His individual painting exhibitions:
- Tivoli Gallery – in Italy in 1971
- Heals Gallery in London in 1972
- TNP Gallery in Oldenburg in 1985, Germany
- Forelle – Schloss Neuchaus Gallery in 1985, Germany
- “Pod Pręgieżem” Gallery of the Silesian Museum
The artist participated in numerous collective exhibitions, such as:
- All-Polish Outdoor Painting, Sculpture and Graphics Workshops – BWA Contemporary Art Gallery in Katowice, 1969
- 13th Fine Arts Festival, Sopot, 1970
- Painting, Graphics and Sculpture of Silesia District – Miskolc , Hungary, 1971
- Exhibition – 40 years of the artistic output of the artists of Katowice province
- 10th All-Polish Painting Exhibition “Bielska Jesień” in 1970, 1972
- Post-competition Painting, Sculpture and Graphics Exhibition in Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw – 1978
- Exhibition “Jan Dudkiewicz and his students” – BWA Contemporary Art Gallery in Katowice, 1981
- Visual Arts Biennial ARS’91 in Warsaw
As a stage designer:
- he made his debut in 1978 with designing stage scenery and costumes for the performance “Romans Niedokończony” (An Unfinished Love Affair) in Stanisław Wyspiański Theatre of Silesia in Katowice.
Prizes and distinctions awarded to the artist:
- in 1967 – distinction in Painting Competition “Człowiek i Świat Współczesny” (Man and the Contemporary World), in 1969 – 3rd prize, in 1972 – 2nd prize
- distinction in the All-Polish Painting, Sculpture and Graphics Competition in 1971
- distinction in the All-Polish Graphics and Drawing Competition in 1967
- distinction in the Visual Arts Biennial ARS’91
His works can be found:
- in the collection of the Ministry of Culture and Arts,
- in Wilanów Poster Museum,
- and also in numerous private collections in Poland and abroad, among others in Great Britain, Denmark, Italy, Germany, France, Austria, Australia, USA, Hungary and Japan.