THIS IS HOW I SEE IT - a solo exhibition by Krzysztof Tarnowski

Artist: Krzysztof Tarnowski
Artistic mentor of the exhibition: Katarzyna Sowa
Exhibition producer: Agnieszka Chojnacka

Opening: Thursday 2 July 2026, 5:00 p.m.
Exhibition open until: 25 September 2026

ArtBrut Gallery
& Studio for Socio-Cultural Inclusions
Wrocław, 46A Ruska Street

Krzysztof Tarnowski has been associated with the ArtBrut Gallery and Studio in Wrocław since 2016. He considers himself an everyday observer of the world around him. In his practice, he explores the world and contemporary processes, treating the creative process as a fundamental tool for observation and narration. He is an interdisciplinary artist for whom drawing remains the language of storytelling. He creates both individual drawings and entire thematic series. One of his favourite media is the comic strip – works such as Pussycat, Panther, Eagle, Echo, Samurai or Hermit, offer an in-depth analysis of social, cultural, political and historical phenomena, often interwoven with autobiographical threads. Since 2021, he has been collaborating with art brut artist Jacek Kröle on the creation of some of his comics. Together they have worked on comics such as Dragon, Ghost czy Oedipus.

Krzysztof Tarnowski is also involved in performance art, and writes short stories, screenplays, poems, song lyrics and essays reflecting his own thoughts. His body of work also includes art installations and video presentations. He is fascinated by music and has occasionally created his own abstract musical scores. He is passionate about history, particularly that of Lviv and the Eastern Borderlands, which is often reflected in his work. He is not afraid to tackle difficult and controversial topics. He is currently developing as a painter, expanding his artistic language to include a new medium. THIS IS HOW I SEE IT is the artist’s first solo exhibition.

Krzysztof Tarnowski has taken part in numerous group exhibitions organised by the ArtBrut Gallery & Studio, including: ARTBRUT at the 5TH BIENNALE OF URBAN ART – OUT OF STH / OCCUPATION / BWA Awangarda, Wroclaw 2017; the BEYOND TABOO series of exhibitions at the ArtBrut Gallery and Studio, 2017–2025; ARTBRUT at the RETROPERSPECTIVES FESTIVAL; Art Incubator – Fabryka Sztuki, Łódź 2018; LIFE ISN’T A FAIRY TALE – a joint exhibition of Jacek Kröle & Krzysztof Tarnowski, Wroclaw 2021; ‘K T H Ł’ – ARTBRUT IN THE BOULEVARDS and ARTBRUT DESIGN in Wrocław’s Boulevards, Wroclaw 2024; ARTBRUTEX. NEW WORLD ORDER, ArtBrut Gallery & Studio, Wroclaw 2025.

Curatorial text / Katarzyna Sowa

Krzysztof Tarnowski has transformed the gallery space into a colourful, rich narrative. From the moment we enter, he leads us into a world of dreamlike images – some born of the imagination, others drawn from the artist’s memories. The painting balances on the borderline between abstraction and realism – recognisable forms disintegrate into strong brushstrokes and bold splashes of colour which, as with the Neo-Expressionists, give rise to further associations and conjectures. The evocative colours seem to vibrate and distort shapes, yet they are plausible and close to what the eye might see. The seemingly spontaneous gestures are deeply considered – the visible brushstrokes are not accidental.

His painting stems from the comic-book practice for which Tarnowski is known, yet it does not replace it – comics remain a parallel and equally important element of his work. The stories presented here contain snippets of everyday life, keen observations and incisive commentary on the modern world. At times, absurd, satirical scenes have become a way of conveying what is difficult to express directly. The artist constructs the narrative using frames reminiscent of film shots – wide compositions dynamically transition into close-ups, whilst the text adds what the image does not reveal. The comics invite readers to explore them at their own pace – to enter a world full of carefully drawn details. Some of these illustrated stories were created in collaboration with the artist’s close friend, Jacek Kröle, who was responsible for the colour, adding an extra layer of expression to the drawings.

Regardless of the medium, Tarnowski remains a keen observer – a man who experiences reality deeply and seeks a form for it. This exhibition shows just how many such forms there can be.