Krzysztof Izdebski-Cruz is an artist concentrating solely on classical painting, working with
oil and pastels. He relates to Renaissance paintings in his work, adopting classical, allegoric
or symbolic subjects. He is recognised as one of the "New Old Masters" (as defined by Donald Kuspit).
He signs his paintings in mirror writing - 'Kriz Cruz' - antedating them by 100 years.
He lives and works in both Gdańsk and the seaside resort of Sopot.
He lives and works in both Gdańsk and the seaside resort of Sopot.
Krzysztof Izdebski was born in 1966 in Toruń, Poland, and studied at and graduated from The Academy
of Fine Art in Gdańsk (Poland) in 1997. From 1996 to 1998 he was a co-editor of 'PROJEKT', magazine
of art. From 1999 to 2006 he was the President of the Association of Polish Artists in Gdańsk. From
2004 to 2007 he was the President of The Pomeranian Zachęta Society
of Art and from 2005 to 2007 the Deputy Director of the Department of The Modern Art National Museum in Gdańsk, Poland. Since 2010 he has been a board member of The Association of Polish Artists in Warsaw.
of Art and from 2005 to 2007 the Deputy Director of the Department of The Modern Art National Museum in Gdańsk, Poland. Since 2010 he has been a board member of The Association of Polish Artists in Warsaw.
Izdebski-Cruz is the author of the method of the reproduction of colour from black and white
archival photography. Part of his work includes the re-creation of the decoration of The Main Hall
in Artus Court in Gdańsk (1991-2005). He has also re-created in color the lost Incunabula for Herder
Institute in Marburg, Germany (2002-2003).
He is the originator of the series of exhibitions "Ocalić od zapomnienia"
(Salvage from fading into oblivion) commemorating the creativity of the deceased, remarkable Pomeranian artists.As the President of The Association of Polish Artists in Gdańsk, he was the initiator of the "Ostrowski Award". The award has a nationwide character
and rewards the most remarkable Polish artists.
In 2006 Izdebski-Cruz was co-organizer and participant of the huge exhibition
of modern art in Gdańsk called New Old Masters, curated by the outstanding American art critic Prof. Donald Kuspit. The international exhibition presented 111 artworks from 33 artists.In 2010 the leading national broadsheet 'Rzeczpospolita' listed Krzysztof Izdebski-Cruz in 47th place in the ranking of the Best Polish Modern Artists (1945-2010) .
