The Remembrance Museum of the Land of Oświęcim invites you to a special event dedicated to the outstanding Polish painter Julian Fałat.
On October 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., the Museum will host a scholarly conference exploring not only Fałat’s artistic achievements and remarkable life, but also his close ties to our region.
Julian Fałat (1853–1929) was a truly remarkable figure. It would be unfair to describe him simply as an excellent painter and watercolorist. He was also deeply involved in social causes, demonstrated a strong sense of patriotism, and played an important role in the development of the Kraków School of Fine Arts, which he reformed and elevated to the status of an academy,” says Anna Cieplińska-Jaglarz, curator at the Remembrance Museum of the Land of Oświęcim.
In his youth, he traveled extensively and could, in a sense, be called a citizen of the world. He was one of the first European artists to travel to Japan and then continue around the world, recording his impressions of these journeys in his paintings. At the beginning of his artistic career, he was searching for his own specialty—something that would set him apart. He chose the difficult, intuitive and fleeting medium of watercolor, although he also worked in oils and drawing. In artistic circles, however, he came to be known simply as ‘Fałat the watercolorist.’
Despite his extraordinary range of activities, Julian Fałat valued the natural surroundings and peace to which he increasingly retreated as the years went by. Eventually, after leaving the Kraków Academy of Fine Arts, he settled permanently in Bystra near Bielsko-Biała. Its proximity to Osiek allowed him to visit the Rudziński family at their palace there, and several paintings were created during his stays in the area, reflecting his deep appreciation of landscape.”
The speakers at the conference “Inspirations from Osiek in the Work of Julian Fałat” will explore the various stages of Julian Fałat’s artistic journey and his connections with Osiek. The program will feature presentations by Dr. Anna Król (Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków), Dr. Maria Zrałek (Humanitas University in Sosnowiec and Fałat’s great-granddaughter), Teresa Dudek-Bujarek (Historical Museum in Bielsko-Biała), and Kinga Kawczak (Historical Museum in Bielsko-Biała),” the Museum curator adds.
During the event, visitors will also have an opportunity to see a self-portrait of Julian Fałat from the collection of the Remembrance Museum of the Land of Oświęcim.
We warmly invite you to join us for this special conference.
Event Information
Date: October 22, 2026 (Thursday), Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Remembrance Museum of the Land of Oświęcim, 2A Maksymiliana Kolbego Street, Oświęcim
Registration
Due to limited seating, advance registration is required. Please register by October 19, 2026.
Phone: 33 447 40 84
E-mail: biuro@muzeumpamieci.pl
