Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Artist of the day, November 10, 2020: Wiktor Górka, a Polish graphic designer (#1142)

 Wiktor Górka (1922-2004) was a Polish graphic designer, and one of the founders of the so-called Polish School of Posters.

In 1952, Górka obtained a degree in graphic design from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. He studied painting in the studio of Jerzy Nowosielski and Tadeusz Kantor.

Between the 50s and the 80s Wiktor Górka worked with the biggest Polish publishers and film distributors. He designed posters (amounting to nearly 300), book and magazine covers, commercial logos and prints. The artist participated in many exhibitions around the world. His posters and projects were awarded in the most important Polish and international competitions. He received second prize in a national competition for the poster 6-year Plan (1949), second prize at the International Film Poster Competition in Karlovy Vary (1962), first prize at the International Competition for Tourist Posters in Berlin (1967), Silver Medal at the Second Polish Poster Biennale in Katowice (1967), and others.

Górka created posters for films such as: Spartacus, Beatrice Cenci, Two for the Seesaw, How Far, How Near, The Great Escape, Twilight of the Gods, One Man Band, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Sleepy Hollow and Marathon Man. His most famous work is the poster design for the cult film Cabaret (1973) directed by Bob Fosse with the memorable performance of Liza Minelli. The poster depicts cabaret dancers’ legs in black stockings as well as Joel Grey’s face in daring makeup, which together form a swastika shape.

Wiktor Górka’s works were never shown in his place of origin. This exhibition is therefore a debt of gratitude owed to the artist, on the one hand, and, on the other – an attempt to remember and present the unique artistic achievements of one of the greatest masters of Polish poster art from the second half of the twentieth century – stressed Krzysztof Dydo, collector from Kraków, owner of the Poster Gallery in Kraków and curator of Wiktor Górka’s exhibition in the BWA Gallery in Bielsko-Biała, where he displayed approximately 100 posters and unseen designs, sketches, drawings, pastels and watercolours, as well as documents from the artist’s life.

In 1970, Górka went to Havana with a group of Polish artists to conduct design workshops in Cuba. From there he ended up in Mexico, where he worked as an artist and a teacher. He taught drawing and poster design at prestigious Mexican art schools until the mid-90s. During the 6th International Poster Bienniale in Mexico in 2000, he received the top award for his contribution to the development of graphic arts in Mexico – Medalla a la Excelencia José Guadalupe Posada.


© 2020. All content on this blog is protected by international copyright laws All images are copyrighted © by Wiktor Górka or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only


2001, Wiktor Gorka or Big Fish
Exhibition poster

1978, The Wing or The Thigh?
Movie poster

1978, A Nice Plate of Spinach
Movie poster

1976, Rose-Marie
Poster

1974, 27 International Bicycle Peace Race
Sport tourist poster

1973, Hunting In Poland Travel
Tourism Polish Poster

1973, Cyrk
Poster

1973, Centromor Poland
Travel poster

1973, Cabaret
Movie poster

1973,  There Was Once a Cop
Movie poster

1971, The Conspiracy of Torture
Movie poster

1971, She Does Not Drink, Smoke or Flirt But... She Talks
Movie poster

1971, How Far Away, How Near
Movie poster

1971 Circus Woman Contortionist
Poster

1970, Spartacus
Movie poster

1969, The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders
Movie poster

1969, Red Rowan
Poster

1969, Cyrk (3 beagles)
Poster

1968, House without windows
Movie poster

1968, Beautiful Angelika
Movie poster

1968, 2001 A Space Odyssey
Movie poster

1967, The Great Escape
Movie poster

1967, Poland invites you to a fisherman's paradise!
Sport tourist poster

1966, Fire enemy of prosperity
Poster

1965, Circus Elephant on Tightrope
Circus poster

1964, Echo
Polish Film Poster

1963, The Criminal and the Lady
Movie poster

1963, The exhibition of Polish posters

1962, The Beast
Movie poster

1961, Farewell pigeons
Movie poster

1957, Seal it
Poster

1956, Lily Boy
Polish poster

1956 Move only that
Poster

1955, VIII International Peace Race
Sport tourist poster

1953,  Working In Three, Building For Twelve
Political social poster

 

No comments:

Post a Comment