In Biłgoraj, the hometown of Stefan Knapp, there was a long lack of public exposure of the works of this prominent artist. Although Knapp was one of the most recognizable Polish contemporary artists, his works were rather closed in private collections, museums or galleries, and the inhabitants of Biłgoraj rarely had the opportunity to meet his work on a daily basis. However, thanks to my efforts and cooperation with the city authorities, this has been changed. One of his most distinctive works was permanently placed on the wall Biłgoraj City Hall, becoming the first publicly available image of Stefan Knapp in this city.
Photo by Um Biłgoraj
No public presence of Stefan Knapp's work in Biłgoraj
Although Stefan Knapp was born in Biłgoraj in 1921 and was associated with this town for many years, his works were not present in public space. As an artist who gained international recognition and was one of the pioneers of combining art with technology, Knapp deserved his works to be available not only in private collections but also in museums, galleries and public spaces.
For many years there was no place in Biłgoraj where residents could admire the works of this distinguished artist on a daily basis. Although there were temporary exhibitions in the city and there is a small permanent exhibition, there was a lack of generally available exposition that would allow regular contact with his works. I always felt that it was not only a loss to the city itself, but also a lack of full appreciation of its artistic heritage.
The idea of permanent exposure
After returning to Poland, after years of emigration, I felt the need and had time and means to change this situation. As a person who has been gathering the works of Stefan Knapp for years and is involved in spreading knowledge about his work, I felt obliged to break this barrier and allow the inhabitants of Biłgoraj, but also for all visitors to the city, to contact with the artist's work. This was the idea that one of his works would become part of public space, more specifically, so that it could be presented on the outside wall. Biłgoraj City Hall.
I decided that the image that best reflects the character of Stefan Knapp's work – a combination of abstraction, technology and exceptional aesthetics – would be the perfect choice. It was one of those paintings which in their form best refers to its characteristic style, in which geometric shapes, lines and colours harmoniously coexist with the transient, technological reality.
Cooperation with the Biłgoraj authorities
In the implementation of this idea, the governors of Biłgoraj, especially the mayor, Janusz Roslan, also played a huge role. I would like to thank him and the city for being open and willing to cooperate. Their support enabled Stefan Knapp's image to be placed in such a prestigious place as City Council. This is a step towards promoting local culture and history, as well as the appreciation of the artist who had such a great influence on Polish contemporary art.
Thanks to cooperation with the city of Biłgoraj, Stefan Knapp's work became not only part of the art collection, but also part of the urban landscape. This is extremely important to me, because art should be available to everyone, whether he visits the gallery or just passes through the city. Thanks to this initiative, the inhabitants of Biłgoraj and tourists now have permanent access to one of the most important works of the artist.
Importance of this exposure
Putting Stefan Knapp's painting on the wall of the City Hall in Biłgoraj is of great importance not only for the city itself, but also for the wider community. This is the first time that one of the works of this distinguished artist became publicly available in Biłgoraj, and thus his work gained even greater visibility.
Knapp's art, which combined modernity with classical form, technology with aesthetics, is a perfect example of how the artist's work can affect public space. The image on the wall of the City Hall becomes not only a decoration, but also an invitation to reflect on art and its role in our daily lives. It is a symbolic combination of the past and the future, of local history with the global context of contemporary art.
Participation in a broader project to popularize Stefan Knapp's work
It is worth noting that this exposition is part of a broader project that I have been implementing for years. I try to make Stefan Knapp's work available not only in museums, but also in public spaces, in places where they can reach the widest possible audience. My activities include lending works of the artist for exhibitions, as well as transferring them to museums and galleries in Poland. Stefan Knapp's works made available from my collection can be viewed in places like Building of the City Hall in Biłgoraj, Museum of Biłgoraj Land, Museum in Osuchach is Museum in Toruń.
As a collector and enthusiast of the work of Stefan Knapp, I feel that I have a mission to make his legacy not only survive, but also be accessible to all who want to discover and appreciate it. I am proud that I can contribute to Biłgoraj – a family town that had such a great influence on the artist – has become one of the places where his art can be present in public space.
Acknowledgements
Finally, I would like to thank once again the Biłgoraj authorities for their cooperation and openness to such initiatives. Thanks to their support, the image of Stefan Knapp is now part of the urban landscape and is an important part of the region's culture. I hope that this initiative will be the beginning of a wider process of promoting Stefan Knapp's work in Poland and abroad.
I would also like to express my special thanks to everyone who has contributed to the permanent presence of Stefan Knapp in Biłgoraj's public space, as well as to the memory of his person and artistic heritage.
Mr Andrzej Czacharowski, a lover of Bilgoraj and a great enthusiast of the memory of Stefan Knapp, I would like to thank you warmly for his irreplaceable commitment. Mr Andrzej not only led numerous projects related to Stefan's memory, but also helped in the publication of the book "The Square Sun", which became an important element documenting the life and work of the artist. His passion and dedication to Stefan Knapp's case are invaluable, and without his contribution many of these actions would not have taken place.
Mrs Mai Walthe curator Museum of Biłgoraj Land, thank you for her extraordinary inquisitiveness and commitment to the study of the story of Stefan Knapp and his family. Maja, her work at the museum, made a huge contribution to the organization of exhibitions devoted to the artist, helping to popularize his work. Her passion and commitment to discovering not only the artist's history, but also the cultural context in which he lived, are extremely valuable. I hope that our cooperation will continue and Stefan Knapp's future exhibitions in Biłgoraj will be even more fuller and more accessible to the local community.
I also thank everyone else who supports this initiative, as well as all who contribute to spreading knowledge about Stefan Knapp and his work. Thanks to you, the art of Stefan Knapp becomes an integral part of our heritage, which can inspire and educate subsequent generations.
Pawel Sokolowski, 2025
https://www.bilgoraj.pl/page/293/stefan-knapp-memory-about-excellent-artist-1921.html
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