Krzysztof Kulicki Kulwietis (1938–2026) – Poland – 1996 – "African Dreams," Oil on Canvas, Art Brut, Orient

Two female figures against a landscape backdrop; the yellow color of the women’s bodies and clothing stands out sharply against the dark green landscape background. In the distance, against a distinct horizon, lies a sandy hill toward which a gently meandering stream or river flows. The entire scene is set against an evening sky. Despite Kulwietis’s characteristic austere style, this painting stands out for the softness and plasticity with which the subject is rendered. Oil on canvas, signed “Kulwietis 96,” with the artist’s inscription on the reverse: “African Dreams by Kulwietis PPA.”
Dimensions: 65.5 cm x 100.5 cm
Condition as shown in the photos.
Krzysztof Kulicki (1938–2026)—Polish scientist (chemist), writer, painter, and social activist.
He was born on February 7, 1938, in Warsaw. He completed his studies in chemistry and earned a Ph.D., after which he began research work in Prof. Sylwester Kaliski’s team at the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microsynthesis at the Military University of Technology. He conducted research on thermonuclear energy, for which he received the Minister’s State Award.
In the 1980s, he worked as a chemistry lecturer at the University of Tiaret (Algeria). After returning to Poland, he was affiliated with, among others, the Central Research and Development Center for Research and Teaching Equipment “Cobrabit.” He also conducted research on water purification technologies, obtaining his own patented solutions in this field.
At the same time, he pursued literary and artistic activities. He made his debut as a writer in 1972 with the novel *Straight Ahead*. He is the author of over a dozen works of prose, including *Those Few People* (1974), “Niedobre ulice” (1978), “Zbiegowie z ulicy snów” (1979), “Plac Zgody” (1982), and “KIF” (1989). His later book, “Wehikuł czasu.pl” (2022), is autobiographical and serves as a summary of his life experiences.
He was a member of the Polish Writers’ Union (Warsaw Branch). From 2006 to 2013, he served as founder and president of the Association for the Promotion of Polish Creativity.
As a painter, he worked under the pseudonym Kulwietis, a reference to his family’s Lithuanian roots (the surnames Kulwieć/Kulvietis). He had been creating art since the 1990s, exhibiting his works in Warsaw galleries and abroad (including in Paris, at the renowned “Bastille” art fair), and his paintings are found in private collections in the West. Kulwietis’s paintings were executed in a distinctive style characteristic of art brut, and he often depicted female portraits.
He died on January 8, 2026, in Warsaw. He was buried at the Powązki Military Cemetery.
He left behind a body of work that combined scholarly, literary, and artistic pursuits, exemplifying an artist with broad interests and interdisciplinary activity.