Born in 1946, Bydgoszcz, Poland
Lives and works in Melbourne, Australia
Andrew Bartosz’s work is striking and sensual. He paints the human body like no other Australian artist. His art holds as its central theme the celebration of the female form. In Andrew’s opinion “The painting of the human body is based on the drawing and the knowledge of the human anatomy. That’s it, nothing else matters more. Colour is only the result of sensitivity of the eye. Even in my landscapes line is dependent upon the human form and it’s sexuality.” His work is fluid and sensuous and at the same time has a definite energy.
Andrew is a highly trained artist who upholds a tradition of technical mastery. He attended The National College of Fine Arts, Poland and graduated in 1965. He completed his master’s degree in Fine Arts, Painting at Copernicus University in Torun, Poland. During his university years he managed the University Art Gallery and the Department of Culture. In the following years he twice received research scholarships to work in the Fine Arts Department at the prestigious Vienna University and it’s associated galleries.
In Poland he taught painting at the Copernicus University. During this period he exhibited in a number of exhibitions leading up to his first solo exhibition in Torun, Poland.
In the years 1973-1976 Andrew held the position of General Designer for National Artistic Events in Poland. He also continued to practice his art and to teach painting, increasingly finding the world of art central to his existence.
Since his arrival in Australia in 1981 Andrew has consistently exhibited his work in solo and group exhibitions in private art galleries throughout the country. His work is a favorite among Australian and overseas collectors alike.
The European tradition of technical mastery with materials and technique is always apparent in Andrew’s painting and drawing. His skill in the use of line is central to any appreciation of these studies in female eroticism. The frequency and richness of colour in figure and background suggests to the viewer the late 19th Century interiors of cities like Prague, Vienna or Budapest and a hint of the works of Gustave Klimt and Egon Schiele, yet these are contemporary paintings in every sense.
Andrew Bartosz is a painter who revels in his work and like a long line of previous artists trained in Europe, brings a new style to his adopted country. These are the paintings that celebrate both the wonder of sensuality and the love of technical achievement.
2014 SOHO Galleries – ‘All the Best Group Exhibition’ – Sydney, Australia
2013 SOHO Galleries – ‘All the Best Group Exhibition’ – Sydney, Australia
2012 SOHO Galleries – ‘All the Best Group Exhibition’ – Sydney, Australia
2012 Manyung Gallery – Melbourne, Australia
2011 SOHO Galleries – Sydney, Australia
2011 Art Fair Melbourne – Melbourne, Australia
2010/11 SOHO Galleries – ‘All the Best Group Exhibition’ – Sydney, Australia
2010 BWA Bydgoszcz – ‘HALLO!’ Group exhibition – Bydgoszcz, Poland
2010 Manyung Gallery – Group exhibition – Melbourne, Australia
2009 Art Fair Melbourne – Melbourne, Australia
2008 SOHO Galleries – Sydney, Australia
2008 Gallery ‘Wielka’ – Poznan, Poland
2007 Manyung Gallery – Melbourne, Australia
2006 Libby Edwards Galleries – Melbourne, Australia
2005 Delshan Gallery – Group exhibition – Melbourne, Australia
2005 Despard Gallery – Group exhibition – Hobart, Australia
2004 Embassy of the Republic of Poland – Group exhibition – Canberra, Australia
2003 SOHO Gallery – Sydney, Australia
2002 Art Images Gallery – Adelaide, Australia
2001 SOHO Gallery – Sydney, Australia
2000 Solander Gallery – Group exhibition – Canberra, Australia
2000 Solander Gallery ‘27th Anniversary Exhibition’ – Group exhibition – Canberra, Australia
1999 Libby Edwards Galleries – Melbourne, Australia
1999 Opening exhibition, Libby Edwards Galleries, Queen Street Woollahra – Sydney, Australia
1999 SOHO Gallery – Sydney, Australia
1999 Greenhill Galleries – Group exhibition – Adelaide, Australia
1998 SOHO Gallery – Sydney, Australia
1997 Solander Gallery at the Contemporary Art Fair 1997 – Canberra, Australia
1997 “Pol-Art’97” Victorian Artist’s Society – Group exhibition – Melbourne, Australia
1997 “Pol-Art’97” National Gallery of Victoria – Group exhibition – Melbourne, Australia
1997 Jackman Gallery – Group exhibition – Melbourne, Australia
1997 Sir Paul E. Strzelecki International Festival’97 – Group exhibition – Morwell, Australia
1997 Libby Edwards Galleries – Melbourne, Australia
1997 SOHO Gallery – Sydney International Art Festival – Sydney, Australia
1996 Libby Edwards Galleries – Melbourne, Australia
1995 Gallery Aniela – Kangaroo Valley, Australia
1995 Swing Bridge Gallery – Tasmania, Australia
1994 Gallery Aniela – Kangaroo Valley, Australia
1994 Moorabbin Art Centre – Melbourne, Australia
1994 RACV Club – Group exhibition – Melbourne, Australia
1994 Dick Bett Gallery – Hobart, Tasmania
1993 1st Prize in Burnie Art Prize for watercolour – Tasmania, Australia
1993 Jan Matejko Memorial Painting Exhibition – Group exhibition – Melbourne, Australia
1993 Swing Bridge Gallery – Tasmania, Australia
1993 Gallery 101 – Melbourne, Australia
1992 Touchstone Art Gallery – Hong Kong
1992, 1998 Australian Contemporary Art Fair – Melbourne, Australia
1992 The Caulfield Arts Complex Gallery – Melbourne, Australia
1992 The Art at Linden Art Gallery – Group exhibition – Melbourne, Australia
1991 The Piccolo Spoleto Art Festival – Group exhibition – Melbourne, Australia
1990 J. Miller Art Gallery – Melbourne, Australia
1988 AMP Gallery – Melbourne, Australia
1988 J. Miller Art Gallery – Melbourne, Australia
1985 Renoir Gallery – Melbourne, Australia
1985 Polish Art Foundation ‘Contal’ – Group exhibition – Melbourne, Australia
1984 The Age Gallery “Pol-Art” – Group exhibition – Melbourne, Australia
1983 Renoir Gallery – Melbourne, Australia
Collections
Australia, Brazil, Canada, U.S.A., Poland, Indonesia, Hong Kong,
Museum of Israeli Art in Ramat Gan Israel,
Muzeum Uniwersyteckie Collegium Maximum in Torun Poland, Muzeum Wyczólkowskiego in Bydgoszcz Poland,
City Council in Bydgoszcz Poland