The art of Stanislaw Ostoja-Kotkowski

Join Maria Zagala, Curator of Prints, Drawings and Photographs at the Art Gallery of South Australia, as she delves into the artistic evolution of Stanislaw Ostoja-Kotkowski, a pioneering multi-disciplinary artist.

The State Library holds Ostoja-Kotkowski’s personal archive, charting his transformative artistic journey from his arrival to Adelaide from Poland in the 1950s through to the 1990s. His work was integral to the development of the arts in Australia, with the introduction, for example, of his innovative work in computer and laser technology, including kinetics and chromasonics, applied to visual art, music and theatre. His archive was accepted to the UNESCO Memory of the World in 1988.

With decades of expertise, Maria Zagala has made significant contributions to both historical and contemporary art scholarship. Her academic background includes a Master of Fine Arts from La Trobe University, focusing on Renaissance life drawing practices, complemented by research in Berlin, London, and Florence.

Also born in Poland and having immigrated to Australia in 1980, Zagala brings a uniquely personal perspective to her exploration of Ostoja-Kotkowski's life and work. She recently contributed an extended essay on Stanislaw Ostoja-Kotkowski to The Adelaide Art Scene: Becoming contemporary 1939-2000, published by Wakefield Press in 2023.

Maria Zagala, Curator of Prints, Drawings & Photographs delves into the life and art of pioneer multi-disciplinary artist Stanislaw Ostoja-Kotkowski, exploring his development from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Image: Newton5c, SLSA PRG 919/107/503