Dimensions: 57 x 27 x 17 cm
signed on the back: 'ADAM ZEGADŁO'
Condition
losses in the paint layer
Biography
Adam Zegadło came from a hardworking family—his grandfather worked in the iron ore mines in Suchedniów, and his father was a farmer. Due to his father’s untimely death, young Adam began working at the age of 13 at a farm machinery factory in Suchedniów. After World War II, the family’s financial situation deteriorated significantly, and Zegadło was unable to support his family solely through farming, so he took on various jobs in an effort to provide for them. He mainly engaged in craft-related work — he made simple furniture, agricultural and household equipment, as well as simple toys—rocking horses, carousels, figurines, and toy cars—which marked the beginning of Zegadło’s career as a sculptor.
The beginnings of Zegadła’s career as a sculptor can be traced back to the 1960s. His first sculptures were acquired for the collection of the Świętokrzyskie Museum in Kielce, and in 1964 they were displayed at an exhibition of contemporary folk art from four provinces: Białystok, Lublin, Kielce, and Rzeszów. A year later, Zegadła’s sculptures were displayed at the Zachęta in Warsaw as part of the exhibition “Inni,” which brought Zegadła widespread recognition. Adam Zegadła’s works were exhibited, among other places, in what is now Slovakia, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, and Finland. The artist was affiliated with Desa and Cepelia, which made his international exhibitions possible. Together with his son, Henryk—also a sculptor—they held a joint exhibition in 1971. Adam Zegadła’s works are characterized by a rich variety of themes, inspiration drawn from local legends and stories, the use of a broad, high-contrast color palette, unconventional forms, and precision in execution. Zegadła’s works were acquired for both institutional and private collections, including those of Ludwik Zimmerer and Leszek Macak.
