Jozef Wilkoń (1930), "Successful Hunting," 2024

own technique, mixed: ink, tempera, watercolor, gilding on paper; dimensions of work: 9 x 11.5 cm, signed pdr J Wilkoń

the work is framed in an Italian frame and UV museum glass

Jozef Wilkoń
Illustrator, painter, sculptor, creator of posters and theater scenery.

Born in 1930 in Bogucice near Wieliczka. Studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow (diploma 1955) and art history at the Jagiellonian University (diploma 1954). Illustrated more than 100 books for children and adults in the country (including Pan Tadeusz in 1973) and more than 80 books for children abroad.
He has received many awards and honors, including the Deutcher Jugedbuchpreis (1964), the State Prize for Children's Creativity (1974) and the Minister of Culture's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. In 2010 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta and received the Golden Sceptre of the Polish Culture Foundation. He has exhibited in many galleries and museums around the world from the Centre Pompidou (1989) to the Zachęta National Gallery in 2006, where his exhibition achieved record attendance. His works are in numerous galleries and museums including the Moulin Museum of Illustration in France, the Museum of Illustration in Oshima, Azumino, Koruisaua in Japan and the Museum of Literature and the National Library in Warsaw . An album edition of The Jungle Book with his illustrations was published in 2009. The book Psie Życie, written and illustrated by him, was recognized by the Polish Association of Book Publishers as the most beautiful book of the year in 2011, and was awarded a bronze medal in the 2013 Best Designed Books from all over the World International Jubilee Competition. In 2015, an album edition of Pan Tadeusz was published, and in 2016 Don Quixote with a hundred illustrations by Józef Wilkoń was published.

More important awards and decorations
1959 - Gold Medal at the IBA International Exhibition of Editorial Art, Leipzig (Germany).
1964/1966 - Deutschen Jugendliteraturpreis (Germany), nomination in the category Bilderbuch
1967 - Award of the Minister of Culture and Art and National Award for achievements in book illustration
1969 - Gold Medal at the Biennial of Illustration in Bratislava BIB (Slovakia)
1970, 1973 - Silver Goats at the Biennale of Art for Children (Poznań)
1973 - Award at Biennale of Illustrations in Bratislava BIB and Medal of the National Education Commission for artistic work for children
1974 - Prime Minister's Award for artwork for children and Gold Medal at the International Book Exhibition in Moscow (USSR)
1975 - Premio Europeo, Padua (Italy)
1977 - Golden Goats at the Biennale of Art for Children (Poznań)
1980 - "Loisirs Jeunes" diploma for the best illustrated foreign book, Paris (France) and Premio Grafico at the International Children's Book Fair, Bologna (Italy)
1984 - The Owl Prize, Tokyo (Japan).
1959, 1961, 1964, 1970, 1973, 1974 - Most Beautiful Book of the Year. PTWK Awards
1987 - PTWK special award for lifetime achievement.
1991 - Grand Prix (Totem Album), Montreuil (France) and Premio Grafico at the International Children's Book Fair, Bologna, Italy.
1998 - Andersen Premio, Geneva (Switzerland)
2000 - Graine de Lecteurs 2000, Arles (France)
2002 - Medal - award of the Polish Section of IBBY for lifetime achievement
2005 - Award of the Minister of Culture
2006 - Gold Medal for "Meritorious Service to Culture Gloria Artis".
2007 - Award of TVP Kultura for the exhibition "Ark Wilkonia" at the Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw
2008 - Honorary Award - Book of the Year 2007 of the Polish Section of IBBY
2009 - Nomination of Internationale Jugendbibliothek for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
2010 - Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
2010- Award of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage
2010 - Pegazik Award in the category Creator of Children's Books
2010 - PTWK Award for outstanding illustrations to Rudyard Kipling's book The Jungle Book.
2010 - Golden Sceptre, award of the Polish Culture Foundation
2012 - PTWK Award Most Beautiful Book of the Year 2011 for The Dog's Life
2013 - Bronze medal for the book Psie życie in the competition Best Designed Books from all over the World
2014 - Presidential Couple's Award to Jozef Wilkoń for outstanding achievements in works for children and young people 2015 - Honorary Citizen of the City and Municipality of Piaseczno
2015 - Award of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage
2016 - Award of the Man of the Year according to the Literary Magazine Book
2017- Honorary badge of the Royal Mining Free City of Wieliczka.
2017 - ZAiKS Award for works for children
2018 - Nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
2019 - Pearl of Wieliczka County Award
2019- Commander's Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, awarded by King Philip VI of Spain