Leszek Rózga

Young lady - XXI Century, Figurative etching print, Nude

2005

Leszek Rózga was born March 18, 1924, in Zgierz. He studied painting at Maria Skarbek-Kruszewska private atelier in 1945–46. In 1948, Rózga began studies at the art school in Łódź in the studios of professors Władysław Strzemiński, Adam Rychtarski, Stefan Wegner and Ludwik Tyrowicz. Rózga graduated with a special award from the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow in 1954. In 1958, he became a member of the Piąte Koło association, also known as Fifth Wheel. In 1967, Rózga began working in the field of graphics in Łódź. In 1971, he co-founded the Faculty of Graphic. In the 1970s, Polish etchings gained worldwide recognition because of artists like Rózga, whose works are in the collections of Albertina Museum in Vienna, in Bibliothèque Nationale de France and his etchings are in the collection of State Hermitage Museum in Petersburg. In 1979, Rózga received the title of professor. He created a series of colorful graphics inspired by travels and stories from his own life, sometimes bearing inspiration from Miró, Matisse and Picasso. Rózga passed away on July 15, 2015, in Łódź.