This selection of works, collected by Maria and Marek Pilecki, is an important element of the landscape of Polish contemporary art. The paintings, sculptures, graphics, drawings on display at the State Art Gallery in Sopot all represent a wide range of media and artistic expressions from several hundred artists, some of whom reside outside our borders. However, what is most characteristic about this collection is the humanistic and existential backbone that refers to the vision of humankind in the contemporary world. The original title of the collection - "Life" - perfectly reflects this. The importance of the collection is affirmed by the long list of recognized artists. A large part of the collection is occupied by the works of Jan Lebenstein. We also have names like Andrzej Wróblewski, Franciszek Starowieyski, Juliusz Studnicki, Andrzej Strumiłło, Nikifor Krynicki, Jerzy Nowosielski, Eugeniusz Markowski, Maria Jarema, Jan Dobkowski, Edward Dwurnik, Zdzisław Beksiński, Kiejstut Bereźnicki, Adam Myjak and many other outstanding artists. As the curator and author of several works from this collection, together with the PGS Director Zbigniew Buski, I invite you to see this extraordinary exhibition.
     --Prof. Henryk Cześnik