Jadwiga Lesiecka (1921-2015) was born in Warsaw in a family of Hebds. At first, she did not think about art, but wanted to study agronomy. The outbreak of World War II thwarted her life plans. She only managed to marry in October 1939 the dentist Maciej Lesiecki. With him, after the end of the war in 1945, she moved permanently to Sopot. The husband was sent to the coast in order to organize a railway health service there. Back then, there was no indication that painting would become her destiny.

In 1956, during her stay in Zakopane, she came into contact with the painting of Stanisław Kamocki. The painting "Marigolds in the Forest" made a great impression on her. It was a breakthrough. Then she decided: "I will paint". From then on, she began to devote herself to her passion with great commitment. Years later, in an interview with Kazimierz Nowosielski, she recalled: "Probably this image only awakened what had already been in me before: sensitivity to color, to light, to people." Her determination was so strong that she painted in every free moment, even at night. During the day, she ran the house and looked after the children.

Prof. Józefa Wnukow, when she saw her paintings, she urged her to apply to the State Higher School of Fine Arts in Gdańsk. Lesiecka did not decide because of her age - she was 35 years old. However, thanks to the help of a friend, her paintings were brought to the examination board. The fact that they were accepted by her was very important for the author. Additionally motivated, she explored the secrets of painting on her own and continued to create by searching for her own artistic path.
With the support of the lecturers of the Gdańsk university, in 1958 the first Lesiecka exhibition took place at the Club of the Association of Polish Artists in Sopot. The exhibition received favorable reviews. In the same year, her paintings were exhibited at the MDM Art Gallery in Warsaw. During the vernissage, one of the art experts suggested that during a planned trip to Paris she meet the renowned French artist, Jean Pierre Collin.

When Collin saw the works of the Polish woman, he said, “What I see is already painting. As for drawing - you will learn academic drawing from me. It will be best if you go your own way. " Lesiecka began studying in his studio. Collin also offered her to learn about great art and "talk to masters" in galleries and museums.

She returned to Poland, leaving her paintings in Paris in the care of her friends who organized her exhibition in the prestigious M. Benezit gallery in 1960. It is worth adding that the gallery was run by former Modigliani's model, Lunia Czechowska-Choroszczo. Favorable reviews appeared in the French press.

During her travels around museums, the artist noticed Delacroix's drawings, which made a great impression on her. Under their influence, she began to draw with ink and pencil. Thus, drawings appeared at the next exhibition at the Benezit Gallery in 1962. Among the guests visiting the gallery, she met Józef Czapski.

The artist spoke with appreciation about Lesiecka's painting. In later years, when she exhibited her works in France, Czapski visited her exhibitions and encouraged her to continue her work. His evaluation was very much taken into account at the time, as he was known as a harsh art critic and unquestioned moral authority.

In 1973, at the IX Grand Prix de Monaco in Monte Carlo, she was honored with a special distinction.  The painter went on many artistic journeys, incl. to France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain. Her art has been presented at over 120 exhibitions in Poland and abroad. Her works are in the collections of the National Museum in Warsaw, the National Museum in Gdańsk, the National Library in Warsaw, the Art Gallery in Szczecin, the Museum in Toulon, as well as in galleries and private collections in Poland and abroad.

Jadwiga Lesiecka died in Sopot in 2015 as a fulfilled artist. She was an extraordinary woman, sensitive, warm and wise.