Krzysztof Urbaniak - Connexions

Krzysztof URBANIAK
Year of birth: 1980
An artist who paints with words
A break from reality painted with words
My paintings are a theater of imagination – situations transferred onto paper or canvas, conversations I had, meetings I explained. The images arise in a place where many cultures meet: Polish, Alsatian, French, German, and Swiss, and in many languages: Polish, French, German, and English. The title of a painting is in the language in which I think at the moment it appears in my mind.
My artistic creation began at the moment I learned to read. Words, quotes, song lyrics, associations related to the past, present and past again, fragments of cabaret performances recited from memory – everything connected with the word paints my images. “The word at the beginning” – just as every line starts each drawing and painting. Many images are inspired by the words of song lyrics.
I am self-taught.
Education
I studied drawing and art history with Professor Joël LEBRA; my passion for art history was transmitted to me by Professor Mariusz Karpowicz, William Kurtyka taught me how to look at paintings and encouraged me to pursue artistic work.
Philosophy
Each painting is accompanied by a description and analysis. Each painting begins with words spoken by me or by my interlocutors. Around them, form, shape, color, line thickness, etc., are built. The lines found on the paintings connect in a loop, allowing you to get lost while viewing the painting and enabling its analysis after reading the text, which is an integral part of it.
Music is often associated with the paintings, which I propose listening to while viewing the artwork.
Reading and speaking are natural activities. It is also natural to break away from reality, which I enable for those looking at my paintings. The stories told in the images are true – REALITY PROVIDES MORE IMPACT THAN FICTION. Sometimes unlikely. The person looking at my paintings can get lost and then find their way again. The person reading the description of a painting can find themselves while looking, get lost, and rediscover.
Technique
Acrylic on canvas, acrylic on paper, ink on paper, collage, mixed media.
Inspirations
I am inspired by words spoken by people, words written, translated and untranslatable, images, sculptures and buildings created by people, including among others Dadaists, Dariusz Orwat, the Bauhaus movement, Annie Albers, Le Corbusier, Jean Tinguely, Hans Arp, Niki de Saint Phalle.
Past exhibitions

March 2024. Exhibition of paintings at Domaine du Hirtz, Wattwiller, France.

May 2025. Exhibition at the City Hall of Pfastatt, France.

June 2025. Exhibition during the charity event “Two Hearts,” Strasbourg, France.

July and August 2026. Poland (Polanica-Zdrój) France (Mulhouse). Many locations, including Ogrody Pieniawskie and Art Café in Polanica-Zdrój, Mediateka in Pfastatt and Le Coin des Delices restaurant in Moosch.

September 2026. Exhibition Regards croisés (Crossed gazes) at the Saint-Etienne church, Mulhouse, France.
ARTISTIC CONCEPT
I paint with words; the form of the painting, its shapes and colors are planned before painting. This stems from the impossibility of making changes once it is painted. The concept of the paintings is based on a line that forms a loop. The line does not intersect itself anywhere. I chose the loop because it symbolizes the repetitiveness of cycles in nature, of which I am a part. Cyclicity is written into the human. The number of words available in each language is limited; we use about 1,500–2,000 words for free communication, words and letters repeat cyclically, but each time in a different context.