Zbigniew Bielewicz

Zbigniew Bielewicz (born August 10, 1913, in Kęty, died September 8, 2008, in Bielsko-Biała) was a Polish artist, painter, graphic designer, and teacher. He was also a soldier during World War II. He was awarded a and the .

Life Bielewicz was born on August 10, 1913 in Kęty. He attended school, first in Kęty, and then in Bielsko (currently a part of Bielsko-Biała). He entered the Teachers' College in Biała Krakowska (currently a part of Bielsko-Biała). After two years, he left it to work with his father as a confectioner. In 1933 he graduated a one-year merchant training school in Bielsko. In November 1935 he joined the 4th Podhale Rifle Regiment (4. Pułk Strzelców Podhalańskich) in Cieszyn. He was then moved to the Border Protection Corps. Bielewicz took part in the September campaign, for which in 1985 he was awarded a medal for "participation in the defensive war of 1939", and in 1995 the "Veteran of the Fight for Freedom and Independence of the Fatherland" badge.

In September 1956 he moved to Bielsko-Biała, where he was making signboards for Spółdzielnia „Społem" ("Społem" cooperative).

He had his first exhibition in the pavilion at Lenin Street (currently 3 Maja Street) in Bielsko-Biała from March 15 to April 4, 1971. It was organised by Związek Polskich Artystów Plastyków (Association of Polish Artists and Designers) which he joined in Bielsko-Biała in 1951 (ID number: 2311).

He became a full member of ZPAP (APAD) in 1972, recommended by his colleagues Jan Grabowski and Ignacy Bieniek. The following years and his retirement Bielewicz has devoted to painting for the exhibitions of the artists' association and as an amateur. Zbigniew Bielewicz died on September 8, 2008, in Bielsko-Biała. He rests at the Municipal Cemetery in Kamienica, Bielsko-Biała.

Major exhibitions +NameDurationPlaceDescriptionAkwarele Zbigniewa Bielewicza (Zbigniew Bielewicz's watercolors)March 15 – April 4, 1971Pavilion at Lenin Street (currently 3 Maja Street) in Bielsko-Biała.Like all the exhibitions, it was co-organized by ZPAP (APAD). 72 watercolors from many open-air locations that the author traveled to during the previous 10 years were presented. Zbigniew Bielewicz – akwarele, oleje, projekty polichromii wnętrz (Zbigniew Bielewicz – watercolors, oil paints, interior polychrome designs)December 1983Biuro Wystaw Artystycznych (Art Exhibitions Office) in Bielsko-Biała.Not only wall paintings were presented, but also sketches, designs, and polychromes. Malarstwo Zbigniewa Bielewicza (Zbigniew Bielewicz's painting art)December 1, 1988 – January 10, 1989Wojewódzka Biblioteka Publiczna (Voivodeship's Public Library) in Bielsko-Biała, Muzeum Beskidzkie (Beskid Museum) in Wisła, Cieszyńskie Centrum Kultury (Cieszyn's Culture Center) in Cieszyn, Museum in Żywiec (Towarzystwo Miłośników Ziemi Żywieckiej – Society of Lovers of the Żywiec Land).Under the patronage of the Beskidzkie Towarzystwo Społeczno-Kulturalne (Beskid Social and Cultural Society). During the vernissage, the author received a „Sztaluga Juliana Fałata" ("Julian Fałat's Easel" – see: Julian Fałat). In October 1989, some of the works were transferred to the Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej (Contemporary Art Gallery) in Wadowice. Jubileuszowa wystawa malarstwa Zbigniewa Bielewicza (Jubilee exhibition of paintings by Zbigniew Bielewicz)May 2 – ?? 1994Wojewódzka Biblioteka Publiczna (Voivodeship's Public Library) in Bielsko-Biała.160 people attended the opening, including Zbigniew Leraczyk, vice-president of Bielsko-Biała, and Zbigniew Stadnicki, president of the Związek Kombatantów (Polish Society of War Veterans). 67 watercolors and 5 oils on canvas have been presented. Wysokie Tatry w malarstwie Zbigniewa Bielewicza (The High Tatras in Zbigniew Bielewicz's paintings)January 9 – March 8, 1997Książnica Beskidzka (The Beskid Library) in Bielsko-Biała.Zbigniew Bielewicz's last exhibition, crowning his career. Viewers could see 22 works focused on the Polish Tatras. The paintings were dated from 1988 to 1995.