BIOGRAPHY Born in the historic town of Brzeg, Poland, Andrzej Karwacki grew up during the years of political oppression and the era of communist Poland. There, he attended the School for the Arts and Literature, then moved to New York in 1984 to continue his education at the School for the Arts at Jersey City State University, where he received a BFA in painting. He finished his education in Philadelphia and in 1994, received his Master’s Degree and Honorary Award from University of Pennsylvania in the field of environmental art and urban architecture. In 2009, Karwacki resumed his studies in San Francisco and received a Masters in Integral Psychology and Certification in Expressive Art Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Currently, Karwacki has a broad creative practice. He is a freelance designer, painter and owns expressive art therapy practice both in California and Virginia. His focus in painting has been in both contemporary abstracts and figurative works. Many private collectors throughout the United States have acquired his work. His paintings are exhibited and represented in LA, SF Bay Area, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Paris and London. ARTIST STATEMENT Karwacki's current painting works explore aspects of color, texture and forms of the natural world. Karwacki sees painting as a visual language between form and composition, color and emotion. His artwork, uncomplicated and soothing, creates feeling of a larger elegant space, an outdoor surrounding. “Andrzej’s earthy birch panels challenge the calculated detachment of minimalism. They recapture fundamental quality of pictorial fields and intrinsically overcome limitations of flatness and implied depth”, (Flavorpill, February 2008). Karwacki draws his ideas from the philosophy of Buddhism and works with a concept and intention of “equanimity”, where it is neither a thought nor an emotion. His use of color and composition expresses immeasurable mood in his paintings. In his current series of paintings, he has literally reconstructed paintings to embrace the underlying order and harmonic balance that supports the organic and at times chaotic nature of life. The style is created by the application of paint with a palette knife to thin wooden boards, which are consequently cut up into strips and collaged together in a different order thereby creating more graffiti like painting landscape, reading the composition like a book that can be read repeatedly with new nuances coming to the fore each time. The resulting work presents a complex array of mark-making and painterly gestures, and color, in a rhythmic stripe pattern. The work itself is presented on 2-inch deep panels, which gives them an architectural and sculptural presence on the wall. To accentuate richness of color and surface, each work is covered with several coats of resin and in so doing, creates a vibrant and luminescent finish. In the EQ Expression Series, the process includes additional step of including strips of collages made from various newspapers and magazines to bring fragments of images and text into composition. The collage also serves to ground the work in time and place, with references to Art, Poetry and The Bay Area’s contemporary lifestyle. These works capture pursuit of a type of art that was perceived in The “New American Painters” movement as being distinctly American. In style, they bring to mind works of John Chamberlain and Mark di Suvero who have similarly prioritized spontaneity and expressive force. EXPERIENCE 2011 - Present, Conceptual Artist/Creative Director/Psychotherapist with emphasis on Expressive Arts Mindfulness EDUCATION 2014, California Board of Behavioral Sciences, CACalifornia Licensure as an MFT 2011, California Institute for Integral Studies, San Francisco, CAMaster’s Degree in Integral Psychology 2010, The Institute for Health & Healing, San Francisco, CACertification in Expressive Art Therapy 1993, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PAMaster of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Art Design 1991, Art School at Jersey City State University, Jersey City, NJBachelor of Fine Arts in Painting SOLO EXHIBITS 2018 STRICOFF FINE ART, New York, NY2016 STUDIO E GALLERY, Palm Beach Garden, FL 2016 SLATE CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, EQ Redefined, Oakland, CA 2015 SF OPEN STUDIOS, Fort Mason Herbst Pavillion, San Francisco, CA2015 THEARTMOVEMENT, Pop Art, London, England2013 BLACKBIRD GALLERY, Seductive, San Francisco, CA 2013 SLATE CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Equanimity, Oakland, CA 2011 SECESSION ART AND DESIGN, Abstract, San Francisco, CA2011 URBAN HARDWOODS, Abstract, San Francisco, CA2010 STEPHANIE BREITBARD FINE ARTS, Mill Valley, CA2010 HANG ART GALLERY, Liminality, San Francisco, CA2009 OAKLAND ARTS COLLECTIVE FLUX 53, Oakland, CA2009 PERI ELA, New York, NY 2009 HANG ART GALLERY, Equanimity, San Francisco, CA 2008 MINA DRESDEN GALLERY, In the Name of Vanity, San Francisco, CA2007 EOS, Earth and Sea, San Francisco, CA2007 HANG ART GALLERY, Closer to Summer, San Francisco, CA2007 PERI ELA, Just Figures, New York, NY2005 COLLEGE OF CULTURAL LEARNING, Figurative Art Show, San Francisco, CA SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITS 2023 ARTWORKS INC, Richmond, VA 2022 REFBLUFF ART GALLERY, Abstract Expressions, Red Bluff, CALAS LAGUNA ART GALLERY, Artistic Independence, Laguna Beach, CASAN FERNADO VALLEY ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER, CAARTSPAN GALLERY, San Francisco, CAART BENICIA GALLERY, Benicia, CAARTWORKS DOWNTOWN, San Rafael, CAEXHIBITZONE, Ontario, CanadaMONA NIKI GALLERY, Mission Viejo, CA 2021 ARTSPAN GALLERY, San Francisco, CAJULES PLACE GALLERY, Boston, MAADC Fine Art, Cincinnati, OH 2020 SFMOMA Artist Gallery, Benefit Sale, San Francisco, CATHE de YOUNG MUSEUM, show entitled “The de Young”, San Francisco, CA 2019 CHRISTOPHER MARTIN GALLERY, Dallas, TXPIPPIN CONTEMPORARY ART, Santa Fe, New MexicoSFMOMA Artist Gallery, Benefit Sale, San Francisco, CASTRICOFF FINE ART, New York, NYWONDERLAND SF, San Francisco, CA 2018 US EMBASSY, Mauritania, Africa, Courtesy of Ambassador Dodman and Art EmbassiesLAGUNA GALLERY of CONTEMPORARY ART, Laguna Beach, CAPIPPIN CONTEMPORARY ART, Santa Fe, New MexicoSFMOMA Artist Gallery, Benefit Sale, San Francisco, CASTRICOFF FINE ART, New York, NYLIMNER GALLERY, Neoteric Abstract, Hudson, NY111 MINNA GALLERY, San Francisco, CADABART GALLERY, Ventura, CA SLATE ART, Oakland, CA WYCHWOOD ART GALLERY, Deddington, UK 2017 DABART GALLERY, Ventura, CAACCI GALLERY, Boundaries & Balance Exhibit, Berkeley, CALONDON AFFORDABLE ART EXPO, Battersea Evolution, London, UK 2016 STRICOFF FINE ART, New York, NYSTUDIO E GALLERY, Palm Beach Garden, FL SLATE CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Oakland, CAWYCHWOOD ART GALLERY, Deddington, UKJULES PLACE GALLERY, Boston, MASIMON BREITBARD FINE ARTS GALLERY, San Francisco, CA 2015 STUDIO E GALLERY, Palm Beach Garden, FL JULES PLACE GALLERY, Boston, MAThe IIDA Northern California, San Francisco City Center, CASTEPHANIE BREITBARD FINE ARTS GALLERY, San Francisco, CASLATE CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Oakland, CAHEATH GALLERY, Black and White Abstract, Palm Springs, CAGALLERY 13, Minneapolis, MNSECESSION ART AND DESIGN, Small Abstracts, San Francisco, CASAN FRANCISCO START UP ART FAIR, Hotel Del Sol, San Francisco, CAART MARKET INTERNATIONAL, San Francisco, Fort Mason, CASFMOMA Artist Gallery, Benefit Sale, San Francisco, CASLOCUMB GALLERIES, Department of Art & Design at East Tennessee State UniversityTHE RITZ-CARLTON, Lake Tahoe, CA 2014 CODE AND CANVAS, SF Open Studios, San Francisco, CASFMOMA Artist Gallery, 21st Annual Warehouse Art Event, San Francisco, CASLATE CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, Paint and Pool Abstract Show, Oakland, CAAAF, Autumn Collection, Battersea Park, LondonJULES PLACE GALLERY, Abstract Exhibit, Boston, MA 2013 AAF, Autumn Collection, Battersea Park, London, EnglandJULES PLACE GALLERY, Abstract Exhibit, Boston, MA111 MINNA GALLERY, The Fantastic 50, San Francisco, CAINTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY MODERN ART FAIR, San Francisco, CAGAUNTLET GALLERY, Visions and Reflections, San Francisco, CASLATE CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, New Abstract Show, Oakland, CAWONDERLAND SF, Charros vs. Luchadores, San Francisco, CAARC GALLERY, The Guerrilla Group Show, San Francisco, 2012 LONDON AFFORDABLE ART EXPO, London, EnglandTHE EMERALD TABLET, SF Open Studios, San Francisco CAWONDERLAND SF GALLERY, Figure Paintings Exhibit, San Francisco, CA COLORFLOW, Zaentz Media Center, Berkeley, CA COCA ART GALLERY, San Francisco, CA LAGUNA COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN, Figure Group Show, Laguna Beach, CA EAST BAY OPEN STUDIOS, Berkeley, CA SF FINE ART FAIR, International Show, Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CAWONDERLAND SF GALLERY, Figure Paintings Exhibit, San Francisco, CAMISHO GALLERY, Spring SOMA Open Studios, San Francisco, CAROYAL COLLEGE OF ART, 20/21 International Art Fair, Kensigton Gore, London, EnglandMARIN DESIGNERS SHOWCASE, Villa on Belvedere , Belvedere, CA PROARTS GALLERY, The Courage Show, Oakland, CA 2011 ARC GALLERY, The Guerrilla Group Show, San Francisco, CALONDON AFFORDABLE ART EXPO, London, England MISHO GALLERY, San Francisco, CABEDFORD GALLERY, Outlandish Contemporary Depictions of Nature, Walnut Creek, CAWONDERLAND SF GALLERY, San Francisco, CASF FINE ART FAIR, Small Works, San Francisco, CAARTPAD SF, San Francisco, CAMEZZANINE, Chillin Productions, San Francisco, CARED BARN GALLERY, Point Reyes National Seashore O'HANLON CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Selected Paintings, Mill Valley, CA 1990-2010 AQUA ART MIAMI, Miami, FLARTWORKS DOWNTOWN, Small Work Show, San Rafael, CALONDON AFFORDABLE ART EXPO, Vernissage.co.uk, London, England MINA DRESDEN GALLERY, Traces of Time, San Francisco, CAWONDERLAND SF GALLERY, Mujeres de Fantasia, San Francisco, CAMARIN ARTS OPEN STUDIOS, San Anselmo, CAAFFORDABLE ART FAIR, New York, NY 111 MINNA GALLERY, San Francisco, CAROYAL COLLEGE OF ART, Kensigton Gore, London, England LONDON AFFORDABLE ART EXPO, Vernissage.co.uk, London, England SF STUDIOS, San Francisco, CA CAVALE TONUZI SPA, Brooklyn, NYMEZZANINE, Chillin Productions, San Francisco, CAAFFORDABLE ART FAIR: NYC, New York, NY FINE ART EROS PULSE, Eros Pulse, Denver, COSECESSION ART AND DESIGN, Open Studios, San Francisco, CANORTHERN CALIFORNIA ART GALLERY, Bold Expressions, Carmichael, CAPLAZA ART CENTER, Juried Show Showcase 5, Healdsburg, CA STUDIOS HOME GALLERY, Abstracts, San Anselmo, CACANVAS ART GALLERY, Modern Figures, Seattle, WAO'HANLON CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Not Easy Being Green, Mill Valley, CARHONDA SCHALLER STUDIO, Restful Alertness, New York, NYCALIFORNIA MODERN ART GALLERY, Special Effects, San Francisco, CASTUDIO 333, Sausalito, CAHANG ART GALLERY, New Faces, San Francisco, CALE GÉNIE DE LA BASTILLE, Americans in Paris, Paris, FranceCITY ART GALLERY, San Francisco, CA STUDIO Z, Chillin Fashion Productions, San Francisco, CALOBOT GALLERY, Oakland, CA ALAMEDA ART CENTER GALLERY, Contemporary Abstracts, Alameda, CA FLUX 53, Oakland Arts Collective, Oakland, CASCALA GALLERIA, Los Angeles, CASOMAR GALLERY, San Francisco, CA UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Berkeley, CA BERKELEY ART CENTER, Berkeley, CA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, Philadelphia, PA PUBLICATIONS 2023 and 2021 STUDIO VISIT MAGAZINE, Volumes 47 and 48 juried by was George Kinghorn, Director and Curator of the University of Maine Museum of Art2019 ART VOICES MAGAZINE COVER2018, CREATIVE PAPER MAGAZINE, New work and an interview at https://issuu.com/creativpaper/docs/creativpaper_issue_no_008_vol_32017, Artist Portfolio Magazine Issue 28, Juried Selection in Abstracts Category, Page 36 & 37, https://issuu.com/artistportfoliomagazine/docs/issue28/362016, 101 BOOK at artvoicesmagazine.com2009 STUDIO VISIT MAGAZINE, Vol. 6 & 8 (2009), Vol. 13 (2011), vol. 20 (2012), vol. 25 (2014) vol. 30 (2015) and Summer 2016, 2010 WEST MARIN REVIEW MAGAZINE, 12, 2010, Feature paintings2009 AESTHETICAMAGAZINE.COM, Dec. 2009 2009 7X7 SAN FRANCISCO MAGAZINE, Oct.1, 2009 2009 CARNEGIE HILL REVIEW, Aug. 2009, 2009 NEOPOPREALISM STARZ, 21st Century ART, 1st Volume2009 FINE ART EROS PULSE BOOK, featured art work from Winter 2009 exhibit, Denver, CO. 2009 ART LTD MAGAZINE, art published in 01.02 2009 issue 2009 SANFRANCISCOISSEXY.COM art interview published 01.05.2009 2008 SFSTATION.COM, art featured in weekly art guide, 11.2008 2008 THE NEW YORKER, art published in the 01.14.2008 issue. 2008 FLAVORPILL SF, Review published 02.07.08 issue 2008 ABC CHANNEL 7, painting presented on "Bay Area gives birth to green renaissance" program dated 2.21.08 2008/2007/2006/2004 ARTBUSINESS.COM, published in issues dated: 08.26.04, 09.08.06, 06.22.07, 02.07.08, 09.25.08, 11.13.08 2006 JOURNAL FRANCAIS, 10/2006 2005 DALKEY ARCHIVE PRESS, Cover Art for ‘The Planetarium’ by Nathalie Sarraute, 2005 2004 DALKEY ARCHIVE PRESS, Cover Art for ‘Martereau’ by Nathalie Sarraute2004 DALKEY ARCHIVE PRESS, Cover Art for ‘The Tower of Glass’ by Ivan Angelo2003 DALKEY ARCHIVE PRESS, Cover Art for ‘Fables of the Novel’ by Warren Motte2003 DALKEY ARCHIVE PRESS, Cover Art for ‘La Batarde’ by Violette Leduc2002 DALKEY ARCHIVE PRESS, Cover Art for ‘Bad News of the Heart’ by Douglas Glover AWARD 2023, Studio Visit Magazine: Juried Art Selection2022, ArtSpan, Special Juried Selection, San Francisco2021, Juried art selection to Access Institute for Psychological Services FundRaiser2021, ArtSpan, Special Juried Selection, San Francisco2020, Juried art selection to The De Young Museum show, #ThedeYoungOpen, San Francisco2020, ArtSpan, Special Juried Selection, San Francisco2020, Studio Visit Magazine: Juried Art Selection2019, Juried art selection Rhythmix Cultural Works and K Gallery, Alameda, CA2018, Mauritania, Africa, Courtesy of Ambassador Dodman and Art Embassies Program, DC2018, Juried art selection at Limner Gallery, Neoteric Abstract Exhibit, New York2017, Artist Portfolio Magazine, Issue 28, Juried Selection in Abstracts Category2017, ACCI GALLERY, Juried Selection by Mark Shunney, Boundaries, Berkeley, CA2016, ArtSpan, Special Juried Selection, Benefit Art Auction2016 Juried art selection at artvoicesmagazine.com by Terrence Sanders2015 Selection of Daylighted's best artists of 2015, Art as a live experience, daylighted.com2015, Selection to Made Local Exhibit by International Interior Design Assoc. 2015, Art Forward Contests for contemporary artist, Bronze Award Winner abstract painting. 2015, ArtSpan, Special Juried Selection by Maria Jenson, SFMOMA , Benefit Art Auction2015, San Francisco Start Up Art Fair, Juried Selection by Ray Beldner and Steve Zavattero2015, Slocumb Galleries, Department of Art & Design at East Tennessee State University2015 Juried Selection by Juror Mika Yoshitake from the Hirshhorn Museum, National Juried Art 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2009, Studio Visit Magazine: Juried Art Selection 2014 Artist Portfolio Magazine, Winner of Abstract Art Issue 16, Jan 20142011 Bedford Gallery, Juried Art Selection: Outlandish Contemporary, Walnut Creek, CA2010 West Marin Review Magazine, Inclusion in the third issue, May 20102009 Aestheticamagazine.com, Award of Commendation for Painting, October 2009 2009 ErosPulse Winter Art Exhibit, Denver, The first “Award of Merit2008 O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, Juried art selection, Mill Valley, CA2008 Rhonda Schaller Studio, Juried art selection, New York, NY2007 Artoteque.com, Award of Excellence, London, England2005 California Modern Art Gallery, Juried art selection, San Francisco, CA2005 Le Génie de la Bastille Arts, Juried art selection Paris Open Studios, Paris, France2004 Alameda Art Center Gallery, Juried art selection, Alameda CA1994 ASLA Honor Award for accomplishments in the field of Environmental Architecture 1994 George Madden Boughton Prize for Design Excellence with Environmental and Social Consciousness 1993 Van Alen Nomination for Traveling Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania ART DONATIONS/COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION Lyme Light Foundation, supporting children suffering with Lyme disease, lymelightfoundation.orgArtists for Recovery benefiting Nu Outlook and the San Francisco recovery community.Project Color Corps, infuse a sense of well-being and energy into urban neighborhoods nationwide.Children of Shelters working to provide support for children living in the SF homeless sheltersHedge Funds Benefit “Open Your Heart to the Children”, supporting at-risk children, SF Bay Access Institute for Psychological Services, San Francisco, CAHaight Ashbury Psychological Services, offering affordable community services.Buena Vista Elementary School, San Francisco, CASecond Chance Rescue, non-profit organization working to save animals in CaliforniaChildren Science Schools, AfghanistanCentral Institute for the Deaf, Saint Louis, MOVisualaid.org, to benefit artists with life-threatening illnesses, San Francisco, CAOunce of Prevention, to benefit child development of low-income families, Chicago, ILAssociación de Padres, to benefit handicapped children in PeruArtspan, supporting art community in the SF Bay Area