Krzysztof Gierałtowski, "Polish Artists"

Since its opening to the public in 1958, the Pomeranian Philharmonic named after Ignacy Jan Paderewski in Bydgoszcz has been encouraged by its long-time director, Andrzej Szwalbe, to enrich the building's interior with various forms of art. His vision was to create a space where music would intersect with other art forms. Thanks to his efforts, the Pomeranian Philharmonic's collection has been enhanced since 1971 with sculptures, tapestries designed by Tadeusz Brzozowski and Józefa Wnuk, as well as paintings and graphics that have received recognition and critical acclaim. However, little was known about the photography collection, which is also a part of the Philharmonic's holdings, until it was discovered by Dr. Agnieszka Wysocka, co-curator of the exhibition. The collection consists of large-format black and white portraits of Polish artists who contributed their works to the Bydgoszcz Philharmonic. These photographs were commissioned by Andrzej Szwalbe and taken in 1986 by Krzysztof Gierałtowski, a stalwart in Polish photography. According to Katarzyna Gębarowska, co-curator of the exhibition, this discovery is particularly fascinating as it reveals that Bydgoszcz's collections house photographs by such an outstanding photographer who has been capturing notable figures in Polish culture, science, politics, and intelligence for over forty years. Gierałtowski's work is guided by a unique curiosity and interest in the personalities of his subjects, evident in the portraits from the Bydgoszcz Philharmonic. Among the featured artists whose portraits can be seen at the Fotografistka Foundation exhibition are Jonasz Stern, Jerzy Krechowicz, Magdalena Abakanowicz, and Stefan Gierowski. The year of Andrzej Szwalbe in Bydgoszcz and the 70th anniversary of the Pomeranian Philharmonic named after Ignacy Jan Paderewski provide an excellent opportunity to present Krzysztof Gierałtowski's previously underappreciated collection of photographs to a wider audience.