Richard Roth & Stefan Knapp – History of the mural on Alexanders Building
Discover the incredible friendship that emerged from the project of the lost department of goods in NYC! [...]
Exhibition / Stefan Knapp. Alchemist and visionary. CSW Toruń since 20 February 2026
When: 20.02–31.05.2026opening of the exhibition: 20.02 (Friday), 19.00 / free admission Where: Art Center [...]
Dialogue with Knapp – Aleksandra Sojak-Borodo Exhibition
The exhibition of Aleksandra Sojak-Borodo in Toruń: The Face of the Past with the Present In the Space of Contemporary Art [...]
Art by Stefan Knapp on the Wall of the City Hall in Biłgoraj – History, Culture and Cooperation
In Biłgoraj, Stefan Knapp's hometown, there was a long lack of public exposure of the works of this distinguished [...]
Stefan Knapp and the largest mural in the world: History of the creation of the work for the department store Alexander
How the Polish artist created a monumental work of art that decorated the facade of one [...]
Alexanders panels are installed in "Valley Hospital" in Paramus
Artystyczny krajobraz Paramus w stanie New Jersey został wzbogacony o znaczący kawałek […]
Stefan Knapp - Introduction
Stefan Knapp was born on July 11, 1921 in Biłgoraj. From an early age, he displayed exceptional artistic abilities and a strong need for creation that accompanied him throughout his life, regardless of circumstances. He grew up in close contact with nature, which shaped his sensitivity to form, movement, and light. Even as a child, he was fascinated by the motives of the circle, district and sphere, and phenomena related to movement and energy, which later returned in his artistic work.
His talent was quickly spotted and developed during his studies at the Technical School in Lviv, where he won awards for drawing works. This period was an important stage in the formation of the workshop and creative freedom for Knapp. During the Soviet occupation, Lviv participated in the implementation of large-format painting works and propaganda posters, which enabled him to experiment with intense colours and large painting planes. This experience had a significant impact on his later interest in the color and scale of the work.
As a result of war events, Knapp was arrested and imprisoned in prisons and labor camps within the Soviet Union. Despite extremely difficult conditions, he continued his artistic activity. On the contrary, creativity has become a fundamental way for him to preserve identity and internal freedom. In prison and camp, he showed extraordinary ingenuity, creating sculptural and useful forms of improvised materials such as bread pulp, and developing his own methods of dyeing using makeshift pigments. In parallel, he made drawings and portraits of fellow prisoners, as well as works commissioned by the camp administration.
A particular achievement of this period was the ability to create works with extremely limited means of expression. Knapp was able, using only a few colors and unusual substrates, to give the character of the portrayed persons and a strong emotional charge of the performances. His works were distinguished by the sense of colour, composition, and light, even in conditions completely devoid of artistic background. Thanks to his skills, he gained recognition among both fellow prisoners and camp authorities, enabling him to continue his creative work.
The experiences of war and exile have played a key role in forming Knapp as an artist. They strengthened his conviction of the fundamental importance of art as a means of survival, communication and affirmation of life. The then developed sensitivity to light, color and rhythm of forms became the basis of his later, already mature artistic achievements.
