Andrzej Zdanowicz painting exhibition in Crete
10.06.2026
The El Greco Museum and the Fodele Cultural Association present the painting exhibition of the renowned Polish artist, professor Andrzej Zdanowicz. The exhibition is under the honorary auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Athens, curated by Magdalena Melissourgaki-Woźzniak.
The power of abstraction and the Cretan light. This exhibition is a unique meeting of contemporary Polish academic art with the historical space that honors the memory of the great Domenicos Theotokopoulos. Andrzej Zdanowicz (born 1960) is a distinguished professor at the University of Fine Arts in Poznań (UAP), where he has also served as Dean of the School of Painting. With a rich career spanning four decades and dozens of exhibitions across Europe, Zdanowicz combines academic precision with a deep inner artistic search.
Between classical technique and abstraction. Although deeply influenced by classical European painting of the 13th and 14th centuries, as well as by the traditional techniques of oil and tempera, the artist today moves in the field of abstraction. In his works, the line becomes the main tool to describe reality without falling into the trap of simple illustration. As he himself notes: “What I painted does not exist as a form, although it has taken on the appearance of an object. I wanted to refer to phenomena, thoughts and sensations that are difficult to render in painting, because they do not have a specific shape... My paintings are carriers of unmanifest thoughts.”
Crete as a source of inspiration. The presentation of his works in Fodele is of profound significance, as Professor Zdanowicz has developed a strong personal connection with Crete. Visiting the island frequently, he found it an ideal place to create. “Here I found the light, the space and the taste of real life. Here I met fantastic, helpful people, thanks to whom I discovered new and surprising aspects of the island. Crete has become a source of inspiration for me now, but I feel that it will remain so in the future”, says the artist. A typical example of this experiential relationship are his paintings that have as their starting point the Greek flag in complementary colours. This work functions as a pure recording of the feeling of heat and the Greek heat wave, transforming a personal impression into a visual experience.
Useful information: exhibition duration 1 – 15 June 2026, the El Greco Museum in Fodele is open daily, except Mondays, from 9:00 to 19:00.
