Jagoda has enjoyed painting since childhood and continued to develop this passion over the years. It became a source of creative imperative – an inner necessity compelling the artist to work continuously and refine his skills. This drive urged him to create always and everywhere: in the cab of a lorry waiting at a border crossing during his years as a truck driver, or in a clinic queue while waiting to see a doctor. For a true enthusiast, no obstacle is insurmountable. The need to create can outweigh pain, lack of sleep, or illness. When Jagoda was diagnosed with an incurable disease affecting the central nervous system, he did not give up. Despite the passage of more than a decade since the diagnosis, he continues to paint, struggling daily for precision of movement, for every line and every patch of colour.

Despite this heavy burden, Jan Jagoda’s painting remains optimistic, even when addressing difficult subjects such as the pandemic or war. The artist skilfully employs grotesque exaggeration, lending his works a humorous tone. Bright, clear colours and the dynamic portrayal of figures make the paintings immediately engaging. At the same time, the attentive viewer may discern a symbolic layer, referring to the condition of the contemporary world.

 Sonia Wilk, Silesian Museum

The exhibition closing event was led by Sonia Wilk, Head of the Department of Non-Professional Art at the Silesian Museum in Katowice, and curator of the artist’s exhibition in Lublin.