Peter M. Zawadzki
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Peter M. Zawadzki (July 16, 1941 - September 7, 2004) was primarily a Maryland artist and gallery owner.
Peter was raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where a youthful interest in art began. As a teenager, he was even able to exhibit his art work at his job, and a local newspaper covered the story. At the end of Army service in the early 1960's, Pete decided to tour Europe with $10,000 to explore its art and culture. Returning from abroad, Pete lived in New York City until 1971, and in the meantime, attended The Art Students League, taking courses, among other things, in graphic design.
From 1972 to his death, he lived in the neighborhood of Waverly, an historic family and student community in Baltimore City. Pete studied art at the Community College of Baltimore (now Baltimore City Community College) and at Morgan State University. He joined an art collective and shared a studio on the top floor of an historic building mid-town on Charles Street (the building has since been demolished) from 1978-1982, exhibiting his work at in-house exhibitions and in other Baltimore galleries. In 1980, Peter also exhibited in a group show at "WomanArt Gallery" in New York City. In 1981, he participated in the revived Salon des Refusés exhibition, held at the Charles St. collective, which was a protest show for all artists not selected for the Maryland Biennual at the Baltimore Museum of Art. That "Salon" proved more important than the Maryland Show and received more public notoriety, and even the BMA director attended its opening.
Pete's art was prolific, and his imagination and resourcefullness allowed his use of everyday objects as his canvas. He worked in oils and other media, including assemblage and photography. And he loved painting "en plein air" as well as in his studio. A favorite outdoor spot was Stoney Run, a large stream flanked by big rocks, located in woods behind The Johns Hopkins University. Along with other concerned citizens, he would monitor its pollution; and loving its seclusion, painted a large body of work at that site.
Between 1993-1999, he owned an art gallery known as "SubZero" in on 31st Street in Waverly, which was subject to local news, and he was part of an artistic group featured in an article in the April 2004 issue of Baltimore Magazine. Pete is also credited for illustrating the book cover of Texas in the Morning in 1994. And in 1999, his paintings were featured in the movie Girl, Interrupted. The remaining body of his art work is owned by his children, other relatives, and friends.
Peter was a creatively unique individual and always enjoyed being a colorful character. His labors included house painting and as a visiting nurse to home-bound invalids. He loved people and animals, and was extremely well-read. Politics and other hot topics were always open to discussion. Pete would move his living quarters to various locations, but never left Waverly because he loved it and cultivated many friends there.
Peter's death was due to heart failure and he is survived by his son, Peter A. Zawadzki of Arlington, Virginia, his brother, Richard Zawadzki of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and his daughter, Sonya Adari Rose Bleakley of Baltimore, Maryland.
For more online information regarding Peter's life and his art, see: "cooldaddio.net" and "findagrave.com"
