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Julian Stanczak

 

An artist whose work has spanned not only countries, but also continents, Julian Stanczak was born in eastern Poland in 1928.  The right-handed Julian was forced into a Siberian labor camp at age 13, where he permanently lost the use of his entire right arm.  While this would be insurmountable for most, Julian merely saw it as a minor setback, and the future educator set about learning to paint with his left hand.  Julian’s very first exhibit, at the Martha Jackson Gallery in New York in 1964, spawned an entire art movement, “Op Art”.  He followed this up two years later, being named an “Outstanding Artist” by the Art in America magazine.  Stanczak’s true magic though, is through his use of optical mixture of color, which has been said to be the most sophisticated in the history of art.   The Cleveland Institute of Art’s Medal of Excellence winner in 1973, Stanczak’s work can be found in over 70 museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Art Museum, as well as museums in Canada, Mexico, Germany, and Poland.  Just as profound an impact as his life as an artist, Julian is a distinguished professor, having spent time teaching at the Art Academy and the University of Cincinnati, as well as over 30 years as a Professor of Painting at the Cleveland Institute of Art.   Along with his wife, Julian has been a resident of Seven Hills since 1964.