Timeline

26.02.1919

Antoni Rząsa is born in the village of Futoma in the Subcarpathian region as the son of farmers, Marianna and Jakub.

1938

He takes up studies in the School of Wood Industry in Zakopane in the class of Antoni Kenar.

1939

The outbreak of World War II forces him to suspend his studies.

1940

He joins the guerrilla, where he serves as a runner.

1941

His mother dies.

1948

He resumes his studies at the High School of Fine Arts in Zakopane.

1952

His father dies.

He graduates and Antoni Kenar invites him to stay at the school to teach sculpting.

1952-1973

He works in the State High School of Fine Arts in Zakopane.

1952

Participation in the group exhibition “Utility in Art” in Zakopane

1954

He passes the abridged state examination for the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts.

1955

Participation in a group exhibition in Berlin organized by the State High School of Fine Arts

1956

Participation in a group exhibition in Geneva organized by the Institute of Industrial Design

1956-1958

The “Days of War” cycle

1957

Participation in a group exhibition in London organized by the State High School of Fine Arts

1958-1959

Antoni Kenar’s illness inspires Antoni Rząsa to carve his first cycle of Crosses.

1959

Antoni Kenar dies.

Antoni Rząsa places his sculpture of Christ on Kenar’s grave.

Participation in the 1stSalon of Religious Art “The Exhibition of Contemporary Religious Art” in the Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw

Participation in group exhibitions in Shanghai and Beijing organized by the Institute of Industrial Design

1960

Display of his works in the seat of the City National Council in Zakopane

1960-1961

The “Saint Annes” cycle

1960-1972

The “Pietàs” cycle

1961

Exhibition (with Barbara Zbrożyna) in the MDM Gallery in Warsaw

1961–1962

A three-month journey do Italy (a scholarship from the Ministry of Art and Culture)

1962-1963

The 2ndcycle of Crosses

1962

Exhibition (joint with Władysław Hasior) in Zakopane

1963

Solo exhibition in the Pegaz Gallery in Zakopane

Solo exhibition in Galeria Artysty i Widza [Artist and Viewer Gallery] in the Łazienki Park in Warsaw

Solo exhibition in the PAX Gallery in Cracow

1963-1964

pobyt w Dachnowie

1963-1966

The Polish Army” cycle

1964

3rdcycle of Crosses: “Fate of Man”

1965

Antoni Rząsa’s son Marcin is born.

Antoni Rząsa marries Halina Vogel née Żyła.

Participation in a group exhibition by the teachers of the State High School of Fine Arts in the Pegaz Gallery in Zakopane

1966

Solo exhibition in the Gallery of Sculpture in Warsaw

Exhibition (joint with Arkadiusz Waloch) in Zakopane

1966

The 4thcycle of Crosses

1968

Solo exhibition in Zakopane

1969-1975

V cykl Krzyży „Oświęcim”

1969

Participation in a group exhibition in Moscow organized by the Association of Polish Artists

Exhibition (joint with Arkadiusz Waloch) in Zakopane

1970

Participation in a group exhibition in Sweden organized by “Desa”

Exhibition (joint with Arkadiusz Waloch) in Zakopane

1972

Exhibition of the Winners of the Art Critique Prizes in the Pryzmat Gallery in Cracow

Exhibition in the Kordegarda gallery in Warsaw

Solo exhibition in Chester, England

1973

Solo exhibition in Zakopane

Finishes work as a teacher of sculpture in the State High School of Fine Arts.

The premiere of the film titled “Portret Antoniego Rząsy” [The Portrait of Antoni Rząsa] directed by Anna Micińska and Grzegorz Dubowski

1973-1975

The realization of the only church commission in his life: “Father Kolbe” for The Lord’s Arc Church in Cracow

The realization of the only church commission in his life: “Father Kolbe” for The Lord’s Arc Church in Cracow

1974

He starts the construction of a house in Zakopane in Bogdańskiego Street, where his art gallery is also created.

1975

Solo exhibition in the Gallery of Contemporary Art in Cracow

21 lipca 1976

The opening of the Antoni Rząsa Gallery

1976

He begins the last cycle of Crosses: “The Women of Ravensbrück”

26 stycznia 1980

Antoni Rząsa dies; he is buried in the Cemetery for People of Merit in Pęksowy Brzyzk in Zakopane

14 grudnia 1980

Halina Rząsa dies.

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