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Discover Who Is Ewelina Pęksowa: A Renowned Folk Artist from Zakopane

On this page, we’ll be answering the question, "Who is Ewelina Pęksowa?" She was born in Zakopane in 1923 and inherited her unwavering passion for art from her father, Stanisław Zubek. The latter was a renowned ski maker and adept wood carver who made traditional Podhale tools and house furniture.

Artistic Journey

Embarking on her artistic path in the 1950s, Ewelina initially worked with wood, later delving into the art of painting icons and exploring her own technique. In 1968, she found her true calling, embracing glass as her canvas and refining her skills independently. Drawing inspiration from Polish folk art, she created a unique style marked by a characteristic range of vibrant colors, including various shades of red, yellow, blue, and green, as well as broken white, black, brown, and gold. Her works reflect the characteristics of the Podhale region, encompassing local folklore, landscapes with architecture, figures of saints, Madonnas, and biblical and life scenes. She also creates historical paintings, which is a distinct rarity in her genre.

Artistic Legacy

Ewelina participated in numerous folk art competitions, consistently achieving the highest ranking among the works of talented folk artists. To date, her artistic legacy spans fifty-five individual exhibitions and over three hundred collective exhibitions, both in Poland and internationally.
Ewelina's paintings are cherished in the ethnography museums in Poland and also form prized possessions in private and public collections worldwide. Furthermore, her interpretation of the Stations of the Cross graces the interiors of numerous churches and chapels.

Awards

She has been given numerous recognitions for her artistic activity, including the following:• Oskar Kolberg Prize (1976) - In Recognition of Her Contribution to Folk Culture• State Award (First Grade) of the Minister of Culture and Art (1983) - For Her Outstanding Achievements in Artistic Creativity• Medal and Honorary Title "Merit to Culture" (1986)• Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2008)• Gold Medal "Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis" (2009)
In 1978, the Minister of Culture and Art granted her the right to use the official title of a graphic artist, an honor usually reserved for trained artists.
Join us in commemorating the extraordinary life and artistic legacy of Ewelina Pęksowa, a luminary in the world of folk art whose indelible mark continues to inspire and captivate generations.