JACEK HAGEL
BIOGRAPHY
Jacek Hagel was born in 1958 and raised in Szamotuly, a small town in Poland.
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His apprenticeship started with his father, Henryk Hagel, a renowned artist, who was highly acclaimed for his unique folk sculpture; soon enough they teamed up to create masterpieces. Together, they renovated the Palace in Czerniejewo (Poland) and also a baroque altar in Szamotuly (Poland), sculpting and carving in wood with period materials and methods.
Jacek Hagel started culminating an impressive portfolio of his own artwork, a wide diversity of paintings in the style of old masters, as well as original graphics and wood sculptures. He was creating for many years his art pieces in many different styles and medias.
Many of Jacek’s private artwork collections can be seen all over the world. His artwork was shown in many places as art exhibits in Poland and the USA. When he left for California in 1992, he has been selling his paintings to many celebrities in Los Angeles. After many years living in LA, Beverly Hills, he decided now to stay in both countries the USA and Poland.
2024 The Museum Gorka Castle in Szamotuly (Poland), he presented the exhibit: “Hollywood Icons”, paintings on wood based on medieval icons as Celebrity Portraits, the repeat of 2001 art show in California.
2016 The Museum Gorka Castle in Szamotuly (Poland), he exhibited his photography along with his poems.
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2014 Church in Long Beach, California, unveiling the monumental 7 panel painting “Soul Rise” with organ concert by Robert York.
2011 Jacek was given the opportunity to create a beautiful polychrome on a statue, which was the central part of a religious ceremony in the Cathedral, Downtown Los Angeles, California.
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2008 He exhibited in his hometown a large collection of his own artistic photos. The Museum Gorka Castle in Szamotuly (Poland) is now in possession of some of Jacek’ s paintings and photographs.
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2006 He exhibited his paintings, wood sculptures and hand carved furniture (Hagel family show) in The Museum Gorka Castle in Szamotuly (Poland).
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2001 After years of experimenting with different art styles, Jacek unveiled his new artistic endeavor “Hollywood Icons”, a series of Celebrity Portraits on wood based on medieval icons, a traditional Eastern European art form. The Randall Erickson Contemporary Art Gallery in Palm Springs, California, presented the exhibit: “Hollywood Icons by Jacek”.
1998 He exhibited his icons, paintings and furniture at the Polam Art Gallery in Los Angeles. The Polam Federal Credit Union Bank in Los Angeles owns one of Jacek’s paintings (a reproduction of “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt).
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1992-1993 Jacek left Poland for Los Angeles. After exhibiting for many years in Europe, Jacek showed his work at the Federal Building in Los Angeles.
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1991-1992 He worked as an Art specialist at The Museum Gorka Castle in Szamotuly, Poland. The Minister of Culture and Art bestowed him with the Award of Honor and Distinction for his project, a retrospective exhibition of the culture of Szamotuly, (as the best show of the year).
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1979 He graduated from the prestigious Franciszek Bartoszek Fine Arts College in Poznan, Poland, where he studied sculpture, painting, graphics & design, and was honored with the Design Award. He also contributed in restoring some masterpieces of renowned artists.
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1978 Single Artist Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings - Museum Szamotuly Land, Museum Gorka Castle, Szamotuly, Poland. After this show the museum owns his painting, oil on canvas: “Princess Halszka”.