ALEKSANDER KOBZDEJ (POLISH 1920-1973)
Vertical Hollow in Warm Gray/Pionowe wglebienie w cieplej szarosci
1967
acrylic and mixed media on canvas
dimensions: 100 x 80 cm (39 3/8 x 31 5/8 in.), unframed
signed dated on the surface, inscribed with artist name, titled and dated on verso in Polish

LITERATURE
Katalog Wystawy Aleksandra Kobzdeja: Muzeum Narodowe w Poznaniu, (Poznan: Muzeum Narodowe, 1969), mentioned multiple times, catalogue number 27, illustration number 23.

LOT NOTES
Aleksander Kobzdej was born in Olesko, Ukraine in 1920 and was one of the most prolific Polish post-war contemporary painters. Initially coming from the Socialist Realism movement, Kobzdej was widely celebrated for his 'matter' paintings. His formative years fell on WWII and he belonged to the generation of exceptional contemporary post-war artists.
After graduating from Lviv Technical University and Gdansk Polytechnic Institute Kobzdej gained recognition for his Socialist-Realist works. He participated in Polish National Visual Arts Exhibitions organized in Warsaw by the Ministry of Culture and Art. However, in the 1950s Kobzdej?s work took a new vector that gained him international recognition. Overburdened with the prescriptive limitations of Socialist Realism, Kodzdej started experimenting with his style formally and conceptually. The artist abandoned his narrative works that had been concerned with the reflection of reality and moved towards abstraction, that enabled him to explore the metaphysical.
During the same years Kobzdej traveled to China, Mexico, Vietnam and Western Europe. Still relying on the traditions of Polish Avant-Garde and Polish Colourist movement he adopted Western neo-Avant-Garde.
His works became increasingly preoccupied with deep research of matter, philosophic and eschatological questions. Conveying particular emotional experiences through dramatic and expressive experimentations with painting structure, color plasticity of matter and materiality became the integral part of his works. Kobzdej?s works are legible but plastic and synthetical in a new way. Kobzdej?s late works are tapping into subconscious social memory and are seen as interpretation of traumatic events and psychological effects of the Stalinist regime.
Aleksander Kobzdej represented Poland at the Venice Biennale (1954) and the Biennale in Sao Paulo (1959).?He was a professor at a number of Universities including the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and Hochschule f?r Bildende Kunste in Hamburg and others.

CONDITION
The work is in good condition, some surface dust and minor surface grime, the frame is loose. UV light inspection showed no signs of retouching.
N.B. All lots are sold in as-is condition at the time of sale. Please note that any condition statement regarding works of art is given as a courtesy to our clients in order to assist them in assessing the condition. The report is a genuine opinion held by Shapiro Auctions and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The absence of a condition report or a photograph does not preclude the absence of defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. Shapiro Auctions, LLC., including its consultants and agents, shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.