Piotr Betlej

About

Born in Jasło, Poland, in 1972, Piotr Betlej is a contemporary figurative artist whose paintings and drawings offer a compelling window into the human experience. His artistic journey began with foundational training at the State Secondary School of Fine Arts in Jarosław (Państwowe Liceum Sztuk Plastycznych w Jarosławiu) and further honed at the People's University in Wzdów (Uniwersytet Ludowy we Wzdowie). This education laid a broad foundation for his focused creative practice.

Since 2001, Betlej has lived and worked in Asnières-sur-Seine, France. This vibrant artistic environment has been his base as he develops his distinctive visual language.

Piotr Betlej approaches his painting as a form of theatrical mise-en-scène, meticulously staging characters in moments of quiet introspection or subtle performance. He largely eschews grand narratives, favoring instead scenes that might appear casual at first glance. These scenes are intended to slowly reveal layers of psychological resonance and existential inquiry. His art is a dedicated exploration of people: their behaviors, challenges, dreams, and the quiet fabric of their daily lives.

With keen observation, he translates these insights onto canvas and paper. His style, characterized by robust figuration and often a charged stillness, captures figures as if caught between action and contemplation. In his pursuit of representation, Betlej masterfully seeks simplicity and harmony, aiming to distill the essence of his subjects and convey individual values. There is a profound conviction in his work that the banal can carry mythic weight when treated with both technical rigor and poetic sensitivity, and his canvases often seem to hold the sediment of past experiences, creating an ongoing dialogue between present awareness and the echoes of what has been.

Betlej's work aligns with his affiliation to "The Emotionalists," an international art group dedicated to evoking deep emotional responses. He also remains an active member of  PLAJA (PLAstycy JAsielscy) the association for artists from his hometown of Jasło, maintaining a strong connection to his roots.

While Piotr Betlej has garnered numerous accolades in international Salons, reflecting significant critical recognition for his painting and work on paper, his primary drive remains the intimate dialogue between artist, subject, and viewer. Dedicated to his craft, he also shares his passion and knowledge by conducting painting and drawing classes.

Artist Statement

My work is a continuous exploration of the human spirit, a dialogue with the myriad facets of our existence. I am driven by an intrinsic need to observe, to understand, and to translate the subtle narratives of everyday life onto the canvas – scenes that might appear casual at first glance, yet are intended to slowly reveal layers of psychological resonance. It is in the ordinary, the seemingly banal, that I believe one can find a mythic weight, uncovering extraordinary truths within our shared behaviors, unspoken dreams, vulnerabilities, and enduring resilience.

Through a figurative lens, I seek to capture not just likeness, but essence. My process involves a search for clarity and a timeless honesty, endeavoring to distill complex realities into forms that resonate with both strength and simplicity. These are often moments of charged stillness, where figures are caught between action and contemplation, hinting at deeper personal and social narratives. I am less concerned with fleeting trends and more with the timeless pursuit of conveying fundamental human values and experiences.

The canvas, for me, is a space where inner worlds meet outer realities, often imbued with the echoes of what has been mingling with present awareness. It's a place to contemplate the psychological landscapes we inhabit, the connections we forge or fail to forge, and the quiet struggles and triumphs that define us. With a profound empathy for human vulnerability, my aim is to create art that invites deep reflection, sparks a recognition of our shared humanity, and encourages a genuine engagement with the emotional currents flowing beneath the surface of our lives. Ultimately, I hope my work offers a moment of connection and a testament to the enduring narrative of the human heart.

A selection of awards and a history of personal and group exhibitions:

  • 2017 – 1st prize – 7th Biennial ‘Arts sur Scène’, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
  • 2017 – 3rd prize for painting – Art Fair, Bois Colombes (FR)
  • 2017 – Distinction – Nano Art Contest, Roi Doré Gallery, Paris (FR)
  • 2016 – Best work on paper – 50th Art Fair, Montmagny (FR)
  • 2014 – 3rd prize for artwork – Art Fair, Bois Colombes (FR)
  • 2013 – City Award for Art, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
  • 2012 – Prize ‘G.N Finez Planard’ – Art Capital, Paris (FR)
  • 2012 – 3rd prize for artwork – Art Fair, Bois Colombes (FR)
  • 2011 – Bronze medal – Art Capital, Paris (FR)
  • 2010 – 1st prize for painting – Art Fair, Bois Colombes (FR)
  • 2009 – Prize for artwork, Art Fair, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
  • 2019 – Dwór Karwacjanów Museum, Gorlice (PL)
  • 2019 – ‘Galeria u Piotra’, Arboretum Bolestraszyce (PL)
  • 2018 – Roi Doré Gallery, Paris (FR)
  • 2017 – House of Culture, Jasło (PL)
  • 2016 – Malgaleria Gallery, Jasło (PL)
  • 2014 – Roi Doré Gallery, Paris (FR)
  • 2013 – Starbucks Coffee, New York (USA)
  • 2009 – Theater studio, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
  • 2007 – Jardin Communic’Art Gallery, Paris (FR)
  • 2006 – House of Culture, Jasło (PL)
  • 2006 – Piranie Dwie Gallery, Jarosław (PL)
  • 2005 – Graciarnia u Plastyków Gallery, Rzeszów (PL)
2021
  • Dwór Kombornia, Kombornia (PL)
2019
  • Dwór Karwacjanów Museum, Gorlice (PL)
  • 25th anniversary of the art group « Emotionalist », Kurier Plus Gallery, New York (USA)
  • 4th Nano Art Contest, Roi Doré Gallery, Paris (FR)
  • Arena Sztuki, Rzeszow (PL)
  • BWA Gallery, Krosno (PL)
  • House of Culture, Jasło (PL)
2018
  • Dwór Karwacjanów Museum, Gorlice (PL)
  • Kunsthalle Gallery, Feldbach (AT)
  • Museum Jana Pawla II, Warszawa (PL)
  • Synagoga Gallery, Jaroslaw (PL)
  • Château d’Asnières, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
  • Galerie Roi Doré, Paris (FR)
  • 2nd exhibition of small format City Hall, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
  • Living Campusl Leoben(AT)
  • Cultural center, Dukla (PL)
2017
  • House of Culture, Jasło (PL)
  • ‘Arami’ Art fair, Ermont (FR)
  • 51st Montmagny Art fair (FR)
  • Charlemagne Gallery Art fair, Bois Colombes (FR)
  • ‘Art sur Scène’ Art fair, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
  • ‘Rev’Arts 2017 Art fair, Bezons (FR)
  • 3rd Nano Art Contest, Roi Doré Gallery, Paris (FR)
  • 2nd exhibition of small format City Hall, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
  • ‘Art is coming to the City Hall’ Art fair, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
2016
  • Charlemagne Gallery Art fair, Bois Colombes (FR)
  • ‘Arami’ Art fair, Ermont (FR)
  • 50th Montmagny Art fair (FR)
  • House of Culture, Jasło (PL)
  • Consulate General of Poland in New York (USA)
  • Art fair in Saint-Germain-lès-Corbeil (FR)
  • Roi Doré Gallery, Paris (FR)
  • Residence Fontaine, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
2015
  • MOK, Dębica (PL)
  • 49th Montmagny Art fair (FR)
  • ‘Art sur Scène’ Art fair, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
  • ‘Art Capital’ Art fair – Grand Palais, Paris (FR)
  • ‘Arami’ Art fair, Ermont (FR)
  • Charlemagne Gallery Art fair, Bois Colombes (FR)
  • Borderlands art house, Dubiecko (PL)
  • 2nd Nano Art Contest, Roi Doré Gallery, Paris (FR)
  • Gallery 33, Ostrów Wielkopolski (PL)
  • Roi Doré Gallery, Paris (FR)
  • Jasło Museum (PL)
2014
  • Charlemagne Gallery Art fair, Bois Colombes (FR)
  • ‘Arami’ Art fair, Ermont (FR)
  • 1st exhibition of small format City Hall, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
  • ‘Art Capital’ Art fair – Grand Palais, Paris (FR)
  • 49th Montmagny Art fair (FR)
  • Cultural center, Vranov (SL)
  • Sandomierz museum (PL)
  • U Attavantich Gallery, Jarosław (PL)
  • House of Culture, Jasło (PL)
  • Zajezdnia Gallery, Lublin (PL)
  • Cultural center, Starachowice (PL)
  • Polish American Foundation of Connecticut, Inc New Britain (USA)
  • Residence Fontaine, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
  • Queensborough Gallery New York (USA)
  • Malgaleria Gallery, Jasło (PL)
  • Starbucks coffee, New York (USA)
  • 5th Biennial, Łęczna (PL)
  • Consulate General of Poland in New York (USA)
2013
  • Polish American Foundation of Connecticut, Inc New Britain (USA)
  • Citi Bank, New York (USA)
  • ‘Art sur Scène’ Art fair, Asnières-sur-Seine (FR)
  • Charlemagne Gallery Art fair, Bois Colombes (FR)
  • ‘Arami’ Art fair, Ermont (FR)