I was born in Poland to a family of artist. After completing my basic elementary learning I was accepted into a prestigious art school in Cracow. After three years of study, during a summer break, my father sent for me to visit him in New York, where he put me to work on a construction site. This is where I learned the art of sanding walls for hours on end, using a jack hammer, cleaning out basements and of course demolition. Vacation?

Enter into the "Age of the Guitar." I joined a heavy metal band. Grew very long hair, wore sunglasses at night and on the subway, to the mortification of my wife (then girlfriend) and only leather pants year round. Got a job at the local music store ordering and selling CD's. This created a bit more artistic focus in my life. Enter into the "Age of the Designing Business Cards, Cutting Foam Letters and Sticking Vinyl Signs on Windows."

These days I am working on my "own music." I have gone back to painting, you can see my latest exhibition at The Carlton Arms Hotel Room 11A. I have several examples of my business designs throughout the city inclusive of murals and carvings. And I've been spending some time behind the lens. You can site my work in the portfolio section.

Family Tradition

My claim to fame, a legacy and someone who I wish could have shared some life with.

My grandfather Stanislaw Solarski was one of those people that art just created itself around. He lived his life in expression. He saved his life with this expression. There are many stories surrounding this man I never had the chance to meet but here is one of my favorites...

Stanislaw Solarski was born in 1909 he attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow but was expelled due to conflict in the defense of a fellow student. He relocated and continued his education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lwow. Unfortunately this time, due to personal health problems and financial drawbacks he was forced to leave.

He headed to Warsaw and opened his own art studio. He became a painter, a copyist, he did illustrations for the major Newspaper "Nowiny Rzeszowskie". He was employed as an art director at a toy factory and he even owned and operated a restaurant with his wife. But it was during occupied Poland he became a portraiture artist for the high ranking Nazi officers that arrested him.

At one of these arrests he became one of many lined up against a wall for a firing squad execution. A dialogue between my grandfather and an officer went something like this: "Wait you don't want to lose me! I am valuable". An officer of the war questioned, "What value do you have?" He simply replied, "I am an artist, I can paint". He painted their portraits as officers of their war, he painted the portraits of their wives and of their children. He painted this option that presented itself to him as his life saver.
My grandmother had heard that he had been captured. She had also heard that he had been executed. After several months in prison an officer approached my grandfather and gave him insight as to "how to get away". He made it and he went home. My poor grandmother looked out her window that evening and had the scare of her life.

His artistry inspired respect and compassion in the middle of one of the most horrific wars of our time. Yes, he was very valuable, yes he could paint. I was thirteen years old when my own father's respect, love and hard work brought together in exhibition what Stanslaw Solarski left behind.