Krzysztof Kulicki Kulwietis [1938–2026] – Poland – 20th/21st century – “The Beauty of Ancient Egypt,” Oil on Canvas, Art Brut, Portrait of a Woman

Two female figures (one of whom is the titular Egyptian woman) rendered in a stark, primitive style, with the entire composition in shades of green, blue, purple, and red. Oil on canvas, signed “Kulwietis 12.” Inscribed by the artist on the reverse: “The Beauty of Ancient Egypt—Kulwietis.” S
Dimensions: approximately 65 cm x 50 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 Microfusion 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 in nature 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 the 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 part of 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 activities.