Surrealism, Metaphysics And Skateboards

Mariusz Lewandowski: Its high time i write about this man.

I haven’t done an article on an artist i like in quite some time, and Lewandowskis web-page has just been sitting in my bookmarks folder for months.

Mariusz was a Polish Surrealist who passed away a few years ago. Like a number of talented painters from Poland over the 20th century, he was actually classically trained, as somehow the modernist wave had not yet destroyed formal training.

This is what you get when you don’t abandon the fundamentals of good art training. Great work that can appeal to a modern audience whilst still respecting tradition.

In any event, this is not overweighed with tradition either. Mariusz’s work ended up on metal album covers and skateboards. His pathway to discovery is a curious one, as told by his artist website:

Mariusz Lewandowski — Polish surrealist painter, born in 1960 in Działdowo, Poland. He died on July 15, 2022 in Górowo Iławeckie. He lived and worked in Warmia and Masuria. In the privacy of his studio, he painted oil on canvas, often exploring themes beyond ordinary perception.

Looking at the later years of his career, it is difficult to imagine how challenging the beginnings were. He was not one of those artists whose talent was discovered in childhood and refined through formal artistic education. Economic circumstances led him toward a practical profession, yet his patience, calmness and humility were eventually recognised after many years.

He took his first steps in art at home. As a child, he decorated old books with drawings, but painting became his true passion. He painted at night, when the house was quiet. His early works — still lifes, animals, landscapes, portraits, nudes and copies of famous paintings — were often gifts for family members. Although his professional life diverged from art, he continued practicing consistently.

For some time he worked in a metalworking company. Gradually art began to occupy more of his daily life. He painted shop signs, funeral ribbons and copies of paintings to improve his technique, slowly developing his own visual language.

For many years his work remained outside broader public interest. He sold paintings near the castle in Lidzbark Warmiński and later in Olsztyn and at Masurian festivals. Together with his family he prepared small painted wooden landscapes. It was a demanding period — days spent waiting for buyers and nights creating new works. Sometimes he exchanged paintings for art materials to continue working.

Supported by his family, he continued painting patiently, refining a distinctive and recognisable style.

The early 21st century brought a turning point — with help from his sons he began publishing his works online. This allowed a wider audience to discover his paintings.

Interest in his art grew internationally. His paintings appeared on internet forums, in galleries and among collectors of surreal art. A major breakthrough came when the American band Bell Witch used his painting Essence of Freedom on the cover of the album Mirror Reaper. The artwork became widely recognised and introduced the artist to a global audience….

….Mariusz Lewandowski passed away in 2022, leaving a large body of paintings and a distinctive visual language recognised worldwide.

As well as his own website, you can also see his work at the website Surrealiam Today.

I’m abit late to his discovery and the news of his passing, but he deserves to have a posthumous legacy for sure. RIP Mariusz, thanks for the great work and hopefully this humble blog of mine can spread the word and influence around.

This one is called “Islands Of My Dreams” and it’s up for sale on the artist website if you really want it. Current asking price is $13,333.33 USD.