“Jerzy Maraj’s design work in the field of applied and artistic glass is an extremely rich, expressive and artistically original phenomenon”
– wrote Piotr Wójtowicz, a drawing and painting teacher at the Secondary School of Fine Arts in Krosno, in “Podkarpackie Art ”.
Jerzy Maraj, a designer and glass artist, had an excellent technique, rich creative imagination, and knowledge of the prevailing trends. The multi-part sets of utility glass designed by the artist, while maintaining their practical qualities, have their own individual trait, characteristic of Maraj. Sometimes it is a small accent – the colour of a detail, the profile of a leg, the shape of the bottom or the edges of the vessels, and sometimes a distinct, different contour drawing – sparing, precisely guided, and sometimes full of breakage, “baroque” in details.
Stronger individualism and bolder solutions can be seen in decorative and utility vessels: vases, bottles, epergnes. It is their projects that have become the forerunner of the later unique creations, glass works of art.
Jerzy Maraj’s oeuvre, abundant but scattered and partial, especially in the area of design activity, forgotten, awaits a thorough and in-depth study. Only then will it be possible to make a comprehensive assessment of the legacy of the artist, who is strongly associated with the Podkarpackie glassworks.
Dr. Hanna Lawera – art historian, curator
Born in Strzelin near Wrocław in 1946.
Graduated with honors at the Ceramics and Glass Department of the State Higher School of Fine Arts (currently: E. Geppert Academy of Arts and Design) in Wrocław in Prof. Stanisław Dawski’s studio, 1971.
In 1971–1984, he was the chief designer at Krosno Glassworks (now: Krosno Glass S.A.). In 1985–1990 he ran a design and artistic glass decoration studio in Krosno. Engraver and designer at Steiner Römanische Glashütte, Linz am Rhein, Germany, 1990–1992.
Chief designer at Inco Veritas Glassworks in Tarnowiec near Jasło, 1992–2007. He also designed for the Makora Huta Pięknego Szkła (Beautiful Glass Glassworks) in Krosno.
Participation in 12 individual exhibitions in Poland and Slovakia, and in numerous group exhibitions in Poland and abroad, incl. in London, Moscow, Hamburg, and Tbilisi.
He designed and made glass vessels for the films “Królowa Bona”, “With Fire and Sword” and “Pan Tadeusz”. For film productions, he created several hundred sets of goblets, plates, glasses and vases.
He died in 2016. Works in museums and private collections, including: the Podkarpackie Museum in Krosno; the Art Exhibitions Office in Krosno and Rzeszów; the National Museum in Warsaw; the Schoen Palace Museum in Sosnowiec; the Castle Museum in Malbork; and the Glass Heritage Centre in Krosno.
