Antoni Kenar

Polish Antoni Kenar studied ornamental sculpturing at the College of Woodworking in Zakopane, and later at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warszawa. In 1938 he started teaching at his old school in Zakopane. He produced sculptures mainly from wood, ceramic works, and drawings and water colors. Kenar also worked as an applied artist, decorating cruise ships and restaurants. In World War II, after the Warszawa Uprising in 1944, he was deported by the Nazis to work camps in Oberhausen and Essen. During this time almost his entire work was lost. After the war, Kenar was a dedicated teacher and director of the Lyceum for Artistic Techniques in Zakopane and later became the director of the Lyceum for Artistic Techniques, and shortly after his death the school was given his name. In 1958, he was appointed professor. His artistic work was increasingly limited by cancer. Kenar, also a well-known mountaineer, was married to writer and educator Halina Micińska-Kenarowa (1905-98).

His sculpture Hokeista (Hockey Player) or just Hokej received an “Honorable Mention” at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games in the art competitions, category mixed statues. The plaster model was created in 1931. The 70 cm high bronze figure was destroyed in the war. The 50 x 40 cm bronze Shooting (actually Strzelec = Archer) from 1932 also did not survive the war. Christiania - also known as Skier (Narciarka) - is a wooden figure, created in 1947, which is shown in the Sports Museum in Warszawa.