Krzysztof Strzelecki Banana - Forbidden Fruit, 2022
About
Krzysztof Strzelecki works in a variety of media including ceramics and photography. Drawing from a range of influences including Christian iconography, the canon of Western art, personal experiences and gay pornography, Strzelecki creates his own world where his subjects inhabit their environments freely. His ‘Cruising Fantasies’ series of large ceramic vases in an array of shapes and vivid color, explores themes of erotic desire, the relationship between sex and nature, and fantasies of a ‘gay paradise.’
Krzysztof Strzelecki (b. 1993, Świdnica, Poland) earned his BFA in photography from the University of the Arts London (UAL), Camberwell. Recent solo exhibitions include Forbidden Fruit, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA and Summer Scenes, Taymour Grahne Projects, London, UK. He has exhibited in group exhibitions at Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA; BEERS, London, UK; JPS Gallery, Tokyo, Japan; and Taymour Grahne Projects, London, UK. His sculpture Olympia (2020), was recently acquired by the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) permanent collection from our presentation at the Dallas Art Fair 2022. Strzelecki lives and works between Poland and London, UK.
Ceramics offers a never-ending range of possibilities, but requires time and intense focus. So much can go awry in the process of firing and glazing, but he does not view ‘mistakes’ as errors but as a means to tell the unique story of every piece.
You can see this nimble approach to art-based communication in his work; Strzelecki often works through ideas through several modalities. However, he has spent recent years focusing on vases. — Isaac Crown Manesis
Strzelecki’s process involves making collages combining photos he takes of muscle-clad sculptures in the Vatican with pornography stills. The result is a rambunctious sex bacchanal referencing classical imagery, all rendered through delicate craft — Strzelecki’s own personal garden reverie. —Tyler Akers
"So, for example, I enjoy re-interpreting the paintings of Henri Matisse or Georges Seurat to include gay and coloured men, thus subverting a heteronormative version of life." —Krzysztof Strzelecki
Krzysztof Strzelecki invites us into his “dream world” of queer cruising spots
"I feel strongly connected to the earth, the colours of nature calm me. Browns, beiges, whites, blacks, yellows, in fact, all shades of human skin, can be found in the soil." —Krzysztof Strzelecki
It’s Much Louder Than Before, organized by James Bartolacci and Stefano di Paola, inexplicably lies at the taut deliberations between the adaptability and reconciliation of a party world of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. — Ricky Amadour
International Isolation Interview with Krzysztof Strzelecki
"What inspired me to work with clay was the possibilities of this medium, you can paint, carve, making sculpture, furniture, dishes - just everything. The big influence was the fact I like to feel the material that I work with under my fingers and control the process of creating with my hands. Leaving a mark of me on every piece." —Krzysztof Strzelecki
Krzysztof Strzelecki, Seam Agency X The Artists Contemporary
"Most of my vases are based on erotic dreams, porn videos and conversations with random strangers about their sexual fantasies. I try to envision a gay paradise; but there is no exact plan and, at times, also use my own photographs for the vases." —Krzysztof Strzelecki
Krzysztof Strzelecki’s ceramics combine a variety of photographic techniques and coloured glazes to achieve the final result. Ceramics is his primary medium today as it combines different aspects of painting, photography and sculpture. —Pineapple
"Krzysztof Strzelecki." K MAG issue 105. 2021. (Poland)
Irvin, Rebecca. "Celebrating Bodily Intimacy and Desire Krzysztof Strzeleckis Ceramic Visions of a Gay Utopia." Art Maze Magazine, issue 22. December 13, 2021. [print and online.] (Link)
Hirano, E. "Krzysztof Strzelecki." Noisy Rain: Gay Art Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 5. 2021. [print]
Thomas, Elfie. "Krzysztof Strzelecki invites us into his 'dream world' of queer cruising spots." It's Nice That. December 13, 2021.
Amadour, Ricky. "Review: It's Much Louder Than Before at Anat Ebgi." California Art Review. September 15, 2021. (Link)
Dickinson, India. "International Isolation." Seam Agency. May 31, 2021. [online] (Link)
Woodward, Anna. "Interview: Krzysztof Strzelecki." The Artists Contemporary. February 14, 2021. [online] (Link)
2020
"Project Art-19." Drugi Par Gaca Magazine. May 15, 2020. (Link)
![This image depicts an artwork by Krzysztof Strzelecki titled "Tempting the Snake." This artwork was created in 2022 and measures 14" x 13 ¹⁄₂" x 5 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (35.56 x 34.29 x 13.97 cm). Its medium is Unglazed ceramic.](https://anatebgi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Krzysztof-Strzelecki_SK1032_1654235449.jpg)
![This image depicts an artwork by Krzysztof Strzelecki titled "Cocoon." This artwork was created in 2022 and measures 18" x 10" x 6" [HxWxD] (45.72 x 25.4 x 15.24 cm). Its medium is Glazed ceramic.](https://anatebgi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Krzysztof-Strzelecki_SK1031_1654235452.jpg)
![This image depicts an artwork by Krzysztof Strzelecki titled "Origin of the World: Jungle." This artwork was created in 2022 and measures 20" x 19" x 6" [HxWxD] (50.8 x 48.26 x 15.24 cm). Its medium is Glazed ceramic.](https://anatebgi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Krzysztof-Strzelecki_SK1030_1654235457.jpg)
![This image depicts an artwork by Krzysztof Strzelecki titled "Origin of the World: Ocean." This artwork was created in 2022 and measures 19" x 20" x 7" [HxWxD] (48.26 x 50.8 x 17.78 cm). Its medium is Glazed ceramic.](https://anatebgi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Krzysztof-Strzelecki_SK1028_1654235460.jpg)
![This image depicts an artwork by Krzysztof Strzelecki titled "By the Waterfall." This artwork was created in 2022 and measures 21 ¹⁄₄" x 21 ³⁄₄" x 8" [HxWxD] (53.98 x 55.25 x 20.32 cm). Its medium is Glazed ceramic.](https://anatebgi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Krzysztof-Strzelecki_SK1026_1654235465.jpg)
![This image depicts an artwork by Krzysztof Strzelecki titled "Secret Spot." This artwork was created in 2022 and measures 20" x 20 ¹⁄₂" x 8 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (50.8 x 52.07 x 21.59 cm). Its medium is Glazed ceramic.](https://anatebgi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Krzysztof-Strzelecki_SK1023_1654235467.jpg)
![This image depicts an artwork by Krzysztof Strzelecki titled "Beach Boys." This artwork was created in 2022 and measures 15 ¹⁄₂" x 16 ¹⁄₄" x 6 ³⁄₄" [HxWxD] (39.37 x 41.28 x 17.15 cm). Its medium is Glazed ceramic.](https://anatebgi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Krzysztof-Strzelecki_SK1022_1654235471.jpg)
![This image depicts an artwork by Krzysztof Strzelecki titled "Banana - Forbidden Fruit." This artwork was created in 2022 and measures 13" x 19" x 6 ³⁄₄" [HxWxD] (33.02 x 48.26 x 17.15 cm). Its medium is Glazed ceramic.](https://anatebgi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Krzysztof-Strzelecki_SK1020_1654235475.jpg)
![This image depicts an artwork by Krzysztof Strzelecki titled "Splashdown." This artwork was created in 2022 and measures 12 ³⁄₄" x 9 ¹⁄₂" x 5 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (32.39 x 24.13 x 13.97 cm). Its medium is Glazed ceramic.](https://anatebgi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Krzysztof-Strzelecki_SK1016_1654235478.jpg)
![This image depicts an artwork by Krzysztof Strzelecki titled "Jogging." This artwork was created in 2021 and measures 44 x 37 x 12 cm [HxWxD] (17 ⁵⁄₁₆" x 14 ⁹⁄₁₆" x 4 ²³⁄₃₂"). Its medium is Glazed ceramic.](https://anatebgi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Krzysztof-Strzelecki_SK1010_1654235481.jpg)
![This image depicts an artwork by Krzysztof Strzelecki titled "Olympia." This artwork was created in 2020 and measures 16 ¹⁄₂" x 15" x 5 ¹⁄₄" [HxWxD] (41.91 x 38.1 x 13.34 cm). Its medium is Glazed ceramic.](https://anatebgi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Krzysztof-Strzelecki_SK1011_1654235485.jpg)
![This image depicts an artwork by Krzysztof Strzelecki titled "Pool Party." This artwork was created in 2021 and measures 53 x 52 x 19 cm [HxWxD] (20 ⁷⁄₈" x 20 ¹⁵⁄₃₂" x 7 ¹⁵⁄₃₂"). Its medium is Glazed ceramic.](https://anatebgi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Krzysztof-Strzelecki_SK1000_1654235490.jpg)
