Witold Śliwiński was born on the 24th of February 1963, in Krosno.
He graduated at the State Secondary Art School in Miejsce Piastowe, from the Faculty of Applied Art Forms, as a disciple of the famous sculptor Władysław Kandefer, who in turn, was a former student of the great Ksawery Dunikowski. Then he was a student at the Photography Post-Secondary School in Krosno. At this time Witold was a student at the Post-Secondary Photography School in Krosno. At the beginning of his artistic career he dealt initially with drawing and graphics and also designed company logos and arrangements along with the preparations for various displays.
Since 1996 he has created many works of art in glass, which bear the characteristics of both applied and unique forms. Occasional statuettes and company souvenirs have also been an important part of his work, and each subject became an inspiration to the origin of new concepts. As Witold explains: In 1996 I became fascinated in working with glass as a medium. Apart from the traditional glass forms, which I considered to be of a harmonious nature and which included the moderate use of decorative elements, they still featured the classic lines. After a period of time, some different ornamental forms began to appear in my work, which one could almost define as being sculptures, in the very essence of the term. These forms slowly began to influence and dominate my way of thinking. I now genuinely feel that the outcome of my numerous experiments is reflected in the current general trend of the development of contemporary artistic glass-work. He is a member of the Polish Union of Painters and Sculptors of „Polish Applied Art” in Warsaw.
„Glass is a strange substance. It is a very demanding material which requires the artist’s complete focus, coupled with an extensive knowledge and high level of expertise. On the other hand, it is expressive and, as such, eager to experience change. As a material, it can undergo various transitions and can be subjected to various operations and techniques. It can be stained, pulled, melted, expanded, cut, blow-formed, broken and reconstituted anew. Continuing along this exciting new path, i began experimenting with my glass forms, combining them with other materials, such as metal or wood. All the time I was looking for new solutions, exploring new and challenging possibilities, whilst still testing the properties and capabilities of this wonderous medium. By combining it with new elements, I often achieved quite unexpected and surprising effects”.
The results of his work are the culmination of his wealth of experience, creative maturity, and the passion for experimentation, combined with courage and risk-taking, to bring about new and innovative creations. That is because glass, irrespective of the way it is manufactured and processed, will always remain the „sui generis”, or „magic material”.
Individual exhibitions:
2004 - The Cultural Centre, Krosno
2005 - GIL Gallery at the Cracow University of Technology, Kraków
2006 - The Pod Ratuszem Gallery, Rzeszów
2007 - The Regional Museum at Jasło,
- The Pod Cieniami Gallery, Krosno
2008 - The Polish-Slovak House in Bardejov
- The Grudysz Gallery Faces of Egypt - exhibition of Photography, Krosno
2009 - Artistic Exhibitions Agency, Krosno
2010 - The Przeworsk Museum
- Krosno, The Regional Centre for Borderland Cultures exhibition of photography
2011 - Rzeszów, Sub-Carpathian Gallery (Uppermost Gallery Level)
2012 - Artistic Exhibitions Agency, Rzeszów
- Regional Centre for Borderland Cultures exhibition of photography, Krosno,
- Cultural Centre exhibition, Sárospatak, Hungary, Zempléni Fesztivál
2014 - Dom Doktora - Gallery exhibition in Zakopane
2015 - Versus Gallery exhibition, Wrocław ‒ at the European Festival of Glass
2016 - Krosno, Glass Heritage Centre
2017 - Cracow, Lipowa 3 Gallery, Glass and Ceramics Centre
2017 - Addison (Chicago), Addison Center for the Arts
2017 - The Regional Museum at Dębica
2017 - Częstochowa - Regional Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts - 'Kondukotorownia'
2018 - Versus Gallery exhibition, Wroclaw
2018 - Krosno, The Szeptycki Manor.
2018 - Warsaw, Center of Creativity Targowa
2018 - Łódź, Galery Re:Medium
2018 - Holandia, Epe - Galerie de Aventurijn
2018 – USA, ILLINOIS - Lakeside Arts Park At The Dole
2018 - Rzeszow, Sub-Carpathian Gallery (Podkarpacka Zachęta) (Uppermost Gallery Level)
2019 - Czestochowa, City Art Gallery
2019 - Königswinter, Germany, Continuum Gallery
Collective exhibitions:
2006 - Bardejov, Slovakia
2008 - Krosno, Sub-Carpathian Museum,
2011 - Artistic Exhibitions Agency, Rzeszów.
2014 - Artistic Exhibitions Agency, Rzeszów
2015 - Artistic Exhibitions Agency, Rzeszów. Exhibition that followed an artistic competition entitled Painting, Graphic Arts Drawing and Sculpture of the Year, awarded a distinction with honours
2016 - Krosno, Glass Heritage Centre “Art School in the City of Glass”
2017 - Oranżeria Galery - Radzyń Podlaski,
2018 - Italy, Roma - 28 Piazza di Pietra - Fine Art Gallery - Final exhibition of "Malamegi Lab 10" competition.
2018 - Artistic Exhibitions Agency, Krosno
