Artist’s Statement - Public Art

The relationship between art and life has widened in the contemporary world. I am intrigued by the possibilities of media and scale which bridge this gap. I love the challenge of public works which are simultaneously a part of their environment and yet something unexpected.

Public art can reach and touch people in ways that art which is seen in galleries and museums cannot. I think of someone walking home from work, who turns a corner and from the corner of their eye, sees something surprising - something that can be approached and even touched, if not today, then another day. Public art lets people share the artist’s experience of art - as a part of daily life and a unique way of communicating and feeling a sense of connection to community.

 

Artist’s Background - Public Art

Edward Rokosz was born in Poland in 1946. He studied, exhibited and taught painting and drawing from the early 1970’s until his departure in 1981. He received his terminal degree in painting and sculpting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdnask where he studied with well known painter Kazimierz Ostrowski, student of Leger’s. After receiving his degree, Rokosz was invited into the Professional Polish Artist Union and was chosen to represent Poland in many art symposiums throughout eastern Europe. It was through his studies with Ostrowski that Rokosz was introduced to the ancient Italian wall painting technique, Sgrafitto. Rokosz spent the next decade applying his works to walls in Poland and West Berlin. During this time, He was invited by the Art Association in Pizzaro, Italy to help in the restoration of a Sgrafitto dating back some 300 years.

 

In 1981 Rokosz left Poland for West Berlin. He was accepted into the Professional German Artist Union and began exhibiting his work on a regular basis. In 1984, he received Honorary Mention and a stipend from the Department of Culture in West Berlin for his oil paintings.

 

Rokosz emigrated to the United States in 1985. Since arriving he has lived and shown his work in Buffalo, San Diego, Tampa and galleries in North Carolina. He has been commissioned works in painting, sculpting and Sgrafitto on both the west and east coasts. One commissioned work was a 17’ x 12’ redwood sculpture with a color concrete  base, installed in Aubrey Organic's business complex in Tampa, Florida. Rokosz now resides in the triangle area in North Carolina.

Artist’s Vitae - Education and Works

EDUCATION

1966-72 MFA equivalent; Academy of Fine Arts, Gdansk, Poland

1961-66 BFA equivalent; Kenara Art School, Zakopanem, Poland

 

COMMISSIONED WORKS

1992 Redwood & Cement Sculpture; Aubrey Organics, Tampa, Florida

1991 Brooklyn Bridge - painting; A. Hampton, N.Y.C.

1989 Two - concrete sculpture; McMillin Properties, San Diego, Cal.

Waves - concrete wall sculpture; McMillin Properties, San Diego, Cal.

1988 Sgrafitto - private collector; Fallbrook, Cal.

1987 Sgrafitto - private collector; San Diego, Cal.

1983 Sgrafitto - DPS Computerservice; West Berlin

1982 Sgrafitto - DPS Computerservice; West Berlin

1975 -1978 15 Sgrafittos and 5 murals, State Business Association; 6 cities in North Poland

 

AWARDS

2001 “DIMENSIONS 2001” ; Associated Artisits & Milton Rhodes Galleries, 36th Annual National Juried Art Exhibition, Winston- Salem, N.C., BBI Company, Inc. award

1995 Finalist Law Enforcement Public Art Work; Charlotte, N.C.

1993 Merit Award; “NEW WORKS” sculpted chair: Artspace, Raleigh, N.C.

1993 Best In Show; “GLASS METAL WOOD”sculpted tables: Artspace, Raleigh, N.C.

1986 The Barbara Schuller Art Attache Award; drawing: Buffalo, N.Y.

1984 B.B.K. Honorary Mention and Stipend; oil painting: West Berlin, West Germany

 

ONE MAN & TWO MAN SHOWS

2002 Chapel Hill Town Hall; Chapel Hill, N.C. - sculpture

2000 Gallery Under the Sky ; Current Works, Durham, N.C. - sculpture, pencil drawings, oil paintings

1991 Private Studio; Statesville, N.C. - redwood & cement sculpture

1983 Gallery “EE”; West Berlin - oil paintings, ink and pencil drawings

1981 Gallery “EE”; West Berlin - oil paintings, ink and pencil drawings

1977 Polish Cultural Center; East Berlin - oil paintings

 

CONTACT EDWARD ROKOSZ

2615 Cone Avenue

Durham, North Carolina 27704

919. (919)688-6428
     

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Copyright �(c) 2009 by Kirk Hathaway (www.hathawaysites.com).  No words or images on this site may be used or duplicated without the expressed permission of the author or the artist Edward Rokosz.