Extraterrestrial

Zdzislaw Beksinski was a renowned Polish artist who executed paintings and drawings in what he called a ‘Baroque’ or ‘Gothic’ style. He is best known as a fantasy artist. Surrealism is evident in his work, which portrays imagery from post apocalyptic worlds beyond. Figures often appear to be both human and alien, wrapped up in their environments which are both nightmarish and beautiful.

Beksinski was born on February 24, 1929 in the town of Sanok in Southern Poland. He studied architecture in Krakow but was never formally trained as an artist. Most of his paintings were created using oil paint on hardboard panels which he personally prepared. Following a successful exhibition in Warsaw in 1964 he became the leading figure in contemporary Polish art. While the subject matter of his work was often considered grim, he believed them to be rather optimistic and even humorous. He hated silence and always listened to classical music while he worked. Music, in fact, was his main source of inspiration – he rarely visited exhibitions or museums.

Tragedy was no stranger to Beksinski. In 1988 his wife died, and in 1990 his son committed suicide. His own life came to a grievous end on February 21, 2005, when Beksinski was fatally stabbed by the son of his longtime caretaker.