Biography

About
Krzysztof Kosowski

Krzysztof Kosowski was born in 1963 in a small village in northern Poland – Jablonowo Pomorskie. When he was only 9 years old, he suffered severe burns in an electrical accident and, as a consequence, both of his arms had to be amputated.

Perhaps, if he had not climbed that high-voltage pole, he would never have been interested in the paintbrushes and canvas, since, as a child, he did not think about painting any more than any other child his age. It was his parents who left him markers and pencils so that he could try to paint something after the accident.

During his recovery, he was admitted to the hospital in Warsaw and later in Poznan, where he underwent rehabilitation sessions. This was the beginning of his adventure with art, and it was there, where he began to paint with his mouth, thanks to the motivation of Professor Wanda Szuman from Torun, pioneer of the method of rehabilitation of disabled people through artistic work. It was during her sessions when she showed him that there were artists all over the world who painted with their mouths and feet. This method opened Krzysztof Kosowski’s heart to art in a striking way and later, meeting Tadeusz Mroz from Wroclaw, a satirist, shaped the artist’s creativity.

Krzysztof Kosowski was born in 1963 in a small village in northern Poland – Jablonowo Pomorskie. When he was only 9 years old, he suffered severe burns in an electrical accident and, as a consequence, both of his arms had to be amputated.

Perhaps, if he had not climbed that high-voltage pole, he would never have been interested in the paintbrushes and canvas, since, as a child, he did not think about painting any more than any other child his age. It was his parents who left him markers and pencils so that he could try to paint something after the accident.

During his recovery, he was admitted to the hospital in Warsaw and later in Poznan, where he underwent rehabilitation sessions. This was the beginning of his adventure with art, and it was there, where he began to paint with his mouth, thanks to the motivation of Professor Wanda Szuman from Torun, pioneer of the method of rehabilitation of disabled people through artistic work. It was during her sessions when she showed him that there were artists all over the world who painted with their mouths and feet. This method opened Krzysztof Kosowski’s heart to art in a striking way and later, meeting Tadeusz Mroz from Wroclaw, a satirist, shaped the artist’s creativity.

Years of study and VDMFK

For two years he studied Art History at the University of Wroclaw and it was in 1988 when he became a member of the World Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (VDMFK), an association founded by Arnulf Erich Stegmann in Liechtenstein in 1957, which brings together artists from all over the world with more than 800 painters from 72 countries.

Work and inspiration

Krzysztof Kosowski paints with his mouth and foot, developing different techniques and disciplines of painting throughout his career: India ink, watercolor, acrylic, oil and mixed media.

Often on his canvas the artist perpetuates his childhood, which he spent in Jablonowo Pomorskie, where vegetation and beautiful landscaped abounded. Much of the inspiration of his works, he draws from fairy tales, mythology, the world of imagination and dreams, and the reality around him.

He takes ideas also from literature, for example: from “The Wizard of Oz” or “The Thousand and One Nights”. In his paintings the artist puts his fantasies, ideas and imaginations that are created after reading a legend or a fairy tale. He is not only inspired by literature, but also by cinema and his own dreams. When he starts painting he is guided by a sudden glow or an idea. Krzysztof Kosowski calls his works – “illustrations of non-existent fairy tales”.

His favorite themes and motifs are, among many, ceramic tableware, scarecrows, animated houses, unusual trees, wells, etc. The artist defines his artistic style as magical realism where elements of dreams and fairy tales are allowed. He loves to mix the ideas of the real world with the world of imagination and dreams, and also bring objects to life.

In addition to painting Krzysztof Kosowski is interested in: mythology and general history with emphasis on the prehistoric era and human origin. He particularly likes to investigate and search for truth and sources from the beginning of time. He has always been interested in and wondered why something is constructed the way we see it and not some other way. On the other hand, he is interested in orientalism and the great religions of the world, he also read a lot and plays chess. In fact, he is a fan of all kinds of tactical and strategic games.

Krzysztof Kosowski has presented his paintings in individual and group exhibitions in Poland, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Barcelona and Norway.  The artist lives with his family in Estepona, Spain, since 2017.

“In the paintings I create, I try to combine different mood and themes; They often contain a touch of nostalgia and irony or satire. People perceive these paintings differently. I try to make them multi-layered. I do not want to impose my way of seeing or receiving on anyone”

Years of study and VDMFK

For two years he studied Art History at the University of Wroclaw and it was in 1988 when he became a member of the World Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (VDMFK), an association founded by Arnulf Erich Stegmann in Liechtenstein in 1957, which brings together artists from all over the world with more than 800 painters from 72 countries.

Work and inspiration

Krzysztof Kosowski paints with his mouth and foot, developing different techniques and disciplines of painting throughout his career: India ink, watercolor, acrylic, oil and mixed media.

Often on his canvas the artist perpetuates his childhood, which he spent in Jablonowo Pomorskie, where vegetation and beautiful landscaped abounded. Much of the inspiration of his works, he draws from fairy tales, mythology, the world of imagination and dreams, and the reality around him.

He takes ideas also from literature, for example: from “The Wizard of Oz” or “The Thousand and One Nights”. In his paintings the artist puts his fantasies, ideas and imaginations that are created after reading a legend or a fairy tale. He is not only inspired by literature, but also by cinema and his own dreams. When he starts painting he is guided by a sudden glow or an idea. Krzysztof Kosowski calls his works – “illustrations of non-existent fairy tales”.

His favorite themes and motifs are, among many, ceramic tableware, scarecrows, animated houses, unusual trees, wells, etc. The artist defines his artistic style as magical realism where elements of dreams and fairy tales are allowed. He loves to mix the ideas of the real world with the world of imagination and dreams, and also bring objects to life.

In addition to painting Krzysztof Kosowski is interested in: mythology and general history with emphasis on the prehistoric era and human origin. He particularly likes to investigate and search for truth and sources from the beginning of time. He has always been interested in and wondered why something is constructed the way we see it and not some other way. On the other hand, he is interested in orientalism and the great religions of the world, he also read a lot and plays chess. In fact, he is a fan of all kinds of tactical and strategic games.

Krzysztof Kosowski has presented his paintings in individual and group exhibitions in Poland, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Barcelona and Norway. The artist lives with his family in Estepona, Spain, since 2017.

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Exhibitions

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Gallery