Press Releases 2005

Embassy Sponsors “Justice Illuminated: The Art of Arthur Szyk”



They have graced the covers of America’s most popular magazines and have served as advertisements for Coca Cola, U.S. Steel and others, but since before World War II no works by Polish-American artist Arthur Szyk’s have come to Poland. Now, the U.S. Embassy, the Arthur Szyk Society, and the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life and Culture, in cooperation with the Jewish Historical Institute are pleased to announce an exhibit of Arthur Szyk’s paintings in three Polish cities. The exhibit entitled: “Justice Illuminated: The Art of Arthur Szyk” will be in Warsaw, Łódź, and Kraków June 30 to August 12, 2005.

Born in 1894 in Łódź, Arthur Szyk is considered by scholars and art critics to have been the greatest 20th century illuminator working in the style of the 16th century miniaturist painters. His subjects were as diverse as his uniquely combined styles of Renaissance illumination and political caricature: the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Nazism, The Passover Haggadah, the United Nations, and even coffee, steel and airline companies. Szyk left Poland in 1937, and this marks the first time in more than 70 years that his work will be shown in Poland.

Alexandra Szyk Bracie, the artist’s daughter, will accompany the exhibit. It opens June 30 at the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw with a presentation by Irvin Ungar, curator for the Arthur Szyk Society.



What: Exhibit: “Justice Illuminated: The Art of Arthur Szyk”

Where: Jewish Historical Institute
Bankowy Square (enter from 3/5 Tłomackie side)
Warsaw

When:
17:00
(runs through August 12)


Contact: Dorota Hannoush, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs, (022) 504-2323