Fantastic Fantasy

A while ago a friend of mine shared the wonderful and fantastic world of Mr. Jacek Yerka with me, his pieces are unreal, unbelievably full of fantasy and imagination.

Here's a little background about the artist as well as some examples of his pieces, honestly he has so many good ones that it was quite difficult to settle in just a few to show in this post.


Born in Poland in 1952, Jacek Yerka studied fine art
and graphics prior to becoming a full-time artist in 1980.
While at university, Yerka resisted the constant pressures of his instructors to adopt the less detailed, less realistic techniques that characterize so much of contemporary art. Instead, he stubbornly continued to work in the classic, meticulous Flemish style he still favors to this day. In the end, it was his teachers who eventually relented, finally recognizing their determined student as a brilliant (although troubling) talent.


The pastoral atmosphere of the Polish countryside provides a solid, mimetic foundation for much of Yerka's art.

However, it is his own uniquely evocative dreams that limn the complex, often arcane imagery of his work.

One need only glance at the luminous surfaces of Yerka's canvases to perceive his adoration of, resonance with, the master painters of the 15th and 16th centuries, key factors in the development of this surrealist Cagliostro. Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Bruegel, Hugo van der Goes and Jan van Eyck were powerful, early influences.

Basing on precise painting techniques, taking pattern from former masters like Jan van Eyck or Hieronymus Bosch but mainly on his unlimited imagination he creates surrealistic compositions, particularly admired by enthusiasts of sci-fi in all varieties.
Yerka inspired the fantasy writer Harlon Ellison to write 30 short stories which along with Yerka pictures constituted the publication entitled "Mind Fields".
The same American publisher "Morpheus International" released the album "The Fantastic Art of Jacek Yerka".

In 1995 the artist was awarded the prestigious World Fantasy Award for the best artist. He exhibits in Poland and abroad (in Germany, France and USA among others), being an esteemed representative of the science fiction stream of art. His paintings have recently inspired film makers.

I hope you enjoyed Mr. Yerka's fantastic world as much as I do, if you'll like more information about his art or want to see even more amazing paintings by him, make sure to check www.yerkaland.com or click here. (Also click on each picture to see a bigger version)