EN Życiorys

Maria Wollenberg-Kluza was born in 1945 in Puławy. From 1967 to 1973 she studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. In 1973, she graduated with honors in painting and also received a diploma of textile art. In the years 1973-1975 she was an Assistant Professor at Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw.

The first individual exhibition of her works was organized in 1967. So far, she organized around 130 individual exhibitions in Poland and abroad such as: Warsaw - Gallery ZACHĘTA 1989; Gallery Kordegarda of Ministry of Culture in 1981, 1983; Gallery of Modern Art "Crooked Circle" in 1974, 1977; Gallery ZPAP - MDM 1973; Sculpture Gallery 1979; Gallery TEST 1988; Royal Park Complex - exhibition in Old Guardhouse 1991 and in Old Orangery 1994; the Museum of Independence 1992; the Piarist College 1993; Jubilee Exhibition - 40 years of creative work in the Palace of Culture and Science 2008; PGNiG Museum 2008; Ursynów Town hall 2010; Bellotto Gallery 2012; Amaristo Gallery of the National Theatre, 2012; and in Cracow, Lublin, Pulawy, Nałęczów, Opole, Lancut, Rzeszów , Slupsk, Olsztyn, Plock, Kozienice, Łódź etc. and abroad, including: in Madrid in 1982, 1984, Prague in 1985, 1988, Karlovy Vary 1988, Stockholm 1986, Sofia 1988, Bergen 1990, 1991, 1994, Delhi, 1993; Polonezkoy (Adampol) 1994, Istanbul 1995, Rome 1995; Moscow, 1997, Kiev, Kharkov, Crimea, Georgia, Vilnius, Klaipeda 1998, Kaunas and other cities of Lithuania in 1999, Venice in 2000.

She has participated in over 200 domestic and international group exhibitions as well as in international presentations of Polish art (eg in France, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Sweden, USA).

Her name is listed in the Polish Encyclopedia PWN (in editions after 1991).

She paints mostly monothematic cycles of 20 - 30 works such as: "People in the City", "Man and machine", "Cathedrals", "Art inspired by music", "Impressions of poetry - Images of Norwid", "Game of imagination" "Impressions from Spain", "Polish landscapes", "Confessions of mother", "SALIGIA - seven cardinal sins", "He and She", "Ver sacrum", "Images of Turkey", "Notes from Norway", "Meditations and prayers", "Chopin in painting and musical motifs", "Old Polish music "etc.

She is also interested in the sacral themes. She is the author of the image of Our Lady in the Siekierki Shrine in Warsaw and two paintings devoted to the revelations taking place in the years 1943-1949 in Siekierki (paintings size: 4.0 x 3.0 meters). She painted a portrait Fr. Popieluszko for the Memorial Committee of Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko. This portrait is in the collection named after Pope John Paul II in the Porczyński Gallery in Warsaw. She also painted a series of paintings for the church in Duczki near Wołomin. In tribute to John Paul II she painted "Triptych of Fatima".

In her works she deals with the issues of human life. Her images are metaphorical, forcing reflections. For finer revealing of her visions she uses rich colors. She tries  to encourage the viewers to personal contemplations. This painting style is founded on the so-called Polish colourism, and refers to the Polish symbolism, though characterized by a strong expression and contemporary understanding of art.

She has received many awards and honors, among others.:

1971 - Award of the Minister of Culture for the results at Academy of Fine Arts;

1982 - the Spanish Government artistic scholarship and stay in Spain;

1987 – the Jan Cybis Award;

1990 - scholarship from the Ministry of Culture and Arts;

2004 - Young Hearts Gratitude medal for co-organizing several editions of Parafiada - International Children and Youth Competitions;

2008 - Medal PRO Mazovia granted by Marshall of Masovia region;

2008 - Special Award of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage;

2009 – The Positivist of the Year Award for 2008.

She is the author of numerous press publications and radio speeches in the field of fine arts.

She is a member of the Société Européenne de Culture in Venice and Member of the Management Board of the Polish Branch of SEC.

She belongs to the Society of Stanislaus from Skarbimierz (TISS).

She is a member of the Academic Society "Fides et Ratio".

The public library in Elblag has a permanent exhibition of her works devoted to C.K. Norwid.


She has participated in and co-organized numerous charity auctions such as:

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