Antoni Kenar (born 23 October 1906, in

Iwonicz Iwonicz is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Iwonicz-Zdrój, within Krosno County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland. It lies approximately north of Iwonicz-Zdrój, south-east of Krosno, and south of the regiona ...

, died 19 February 1959, in

Zakopane Zakopane (Gorals#Language, Podhale Goral: ''Zokopane'') is a town in the south of Poland, in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998, it was part of Nowy Sącz Voivodeship; since 1999, it has ...

) was a Polish sculptor, educator, and director of the Antoni Kenar School of Fine Arts in

. He was also a mountaineer.

Biography

He was born on 23 October 1906, in Iwonicz, to the family of Szymon and Franciszka née Jarocińska. He completed primary school in Iwonicz. In 1925, he graduated from the State School of Wood Industry in Zakopane, specializing as an ornamental sculptor. His teacher and mentor were Karol Stryjeński. He completed his studies at the sculpture department of the

Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw () is a public university of visual arts and applied arts located in the Polish capital. The academy traces its history back to the Department of Arts founded at the Warsaw University in the Duchy of Warsaw in 18 ...

. In 1938, he returned to Zakopane. During the occupation, he stayed in Warsaw. In the autumn of 1941 and the spring of 1942, he lived in the village of Balice, in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, where he created wooden sculptures for the local church altar and a stone statue of Jesus Christ made from Pińczów stone, standing in front of the church. After the

Warsaw uprising The Warsaw Uprising (; ), sometimes referred to as the August Uprising (), or the Battle of Warsaw, was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance movement in World War II, Polish underground resistance to liberate Warsaw from ...

, he was deported by the Germans to forced labor camps in

Oberhausen Oberhausen (, ) is a city on the river Emscher in the Ruhr Area, Germany, located between Duisburg and Essen ( ). The city hosts the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen and its Gasometer Oberhausen is an anchor point of the European Rout ...

and

Essen Essen () is the central and, after Dortmund, second-largest city of the Ruhr, the largest urban area in Germany. Its population of makes it the fourth-largest city of North Rhine-Westphalia after Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund, as well as ...

. In 1947, he returned to Zakopane and took up a position at the State School of Wood Industry. From 1954, he became the director of the school, which, after reorganization in 1948, was named the State High School of Fine Arts. A few months after Kenar's death, the school was officially named after him. His work was part of the art competitions at the

1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an international multi-sport event held from July 30 to August 14, 1932, in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Games were held du ...

and the

1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and officially branded as London 1948, were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus cau ...

Antoni Kenar School of Fine Arts in Zakopane

Kenar's merit lay in the profound education system reform in School of Fine Arts in Zakopane, combining creative freedom, respect for folk art tradition, proficient craftsmanship, and an understanding of contemporary art trends. Many artists graduated from the "Kenar School," including sculptors such as

Władysław Hasior Władysław Hasior (; 14 May 1928 – 14 July 1999) was a Polish sculptor, painter and theatre set designer. He was one of the leading Polish contemporary sculptors connected with the Podhale region. Biography Władysław Hasior was born in Now ...

, Stanisław Kulon, Antoni Rząsa, and Bronisław "Buni" Tusk.

Important works of art

In his own artistic creations, Kenar blended elements of the Podhale region with influences from Cubism and Art Deco. Some of his preserved works include: "Aniołek" (1937), "Narciarka" (Skier)(1948), "Dyskobolka" (1956), "Niedźwiedź" (1955), "Madonna" (1941), the design for the Auschwitz Victims Monument (1952), as well as sculptures on the ships MS Batory and

MS Piłsudski MS ''Piłsudski'' (later renamed ORP ''Piłsudski'') was a medium-size ocean liner of the Polish Merchant Marine, named for Marshal Józef Piłsudski, a national hero of Poland. While transporting troops, the ship was sunk off the coast of Engl ...

. Additionally, the artist's work includes the cross on the grave of Karol Stryjeński (1933).

Orders and Decorations

* Knight's Cross of the

Order of Polonia Restituta The Order of Polonia Restituta (, ) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on alien (law), foreigners for outstanding achievements in ...

(1958) * Golden Cross of Merit (22 July 1952) * Medal of the 10th Anniversary of People's Poland (28 February 1955)

Commemoration

* Since 1959, the State High School of Fine Arts in Zakopane has been named after Antoni Kenar. * Streets in the Krakow district of Dzielnica X Swoszowice and in Iwonicz-Zdroj have been named in his honor. * Antoni Kenar rests at the Pęksowy Brzyzek National Cemetery in Zakopane (plot L-II-9).Antoni Kenar's grave
/ref>

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kenar, Antoni Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw alumni Polish educational theorists People from Zakopane 1906 births 1959 deaths 20th-century Polish sculptors Polish male sculptors 20th-century Polish male artists Art competitors at the 1932 Summer Olympics Art competitors at the 1948 Summer Olympics People from Krosno County Polish mountain climbers Recipients of the Medal of the 10th Anniversary of the People's Republic of Poland