Zygmunt Zaradkiewicz was born in 1951, Maków Mazowiecki, Poland.
Education: Faculty of Graphic Arts, Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw. Diploma with distinction (1976).
Works and activity: book illustrations, cartoons, prints, posters, paintings, and stage sets. Debuts in the magazines “Polska” and “Szpilki” in 1972. Publications in periodicals and the Polish press, e.g.:
“itd”, “Karuzela”, “Kobieta i Zycie”, “Magazyn Rodzinny”, “Radar”, “Razem”, “Rzeczpospolita”, “Sukces” (artistic director 1998-2000), “Szpilki”, “Sztandar Młodych”,“Zycie Warszawy”, as well as abroad: “Pardon” and “Slapstick” (Germany).
Collaboration with publishers: Bertelsmann, Czytelnik, Iskry, KAW, MAW, MON, Murator (art director – 1996-1998), Nasza Ksiegarnia. Author of posters for films and various events, set and costume designs for the Adekwatny Theatre in Warsaw.
He has served on the juries of national and international cartoon competitions. Initiator and organizer of international cartoon competitions: “The Ball Is in Play”, “The Great and the Little Warsaw”, as well as the national competitions for the “Cartoon of the Month” and “Cartoon of the Year”.
Director of the Museum of Caricature and Cartoon Art (MCCA) in Warsaw (2011 – 2014).
Awards and distinctions: e.g. Gold Pin (1972); honorable mention – 2nd General Polish Exhibition of Satirical Works, Warsaw (1977); “Szpilki” editors’ award at the exhibition “From Wars and
Sawa to the Łazienkowska Thoroughfare”, MCCA (1980); 2nd prize – competition “Telemagic”, MCCA (2004); 2nd prize – Satyrykon, Legnica (2008); Satyrykon, Legnica – Museum of Caricature and Cartoon Art Award (2009); Grand Prix – 8th Festival of Good Humor, Gdansk (2007); 1st prize – International Open Cartoon Contest “Oil and Gas”, Zielona Góra (2008); Grand Prix – International Cartoon Contest “The Big Boat of Humour”, Lodz (2008);
and abroad, e.g.: special award – Nasreddin Hodja Festival, Istanbul, Turkey (1977); 3rd prize – International Cartoon Contest “ForProFor”, Prague (2004); special award – International Cartoon Contest “ForProFor”, Prague (2006); 1st prize – International Cartoon Contest “ForProFor”, Prague (2008); 2nd prize – International Art Awards BIRD 2005, Beijing (2005);2nd prize – International Salon of Antiwar Caricature, Kragujevac, Serbia (2007); 3rd Prize – PortoCartoon World Festival, Porto (2009); Public Prize – PortoCartoon World Festival, Porto (2010); Grand Prix – PortoCartoon World Festival, Porto (2011); Best European Entry – Prijs EU – 18th Euro-Kartoenale, Kruishoutem, Belgium (2011); 1st prize – 2nd International Cartoon Competition “Dictatorship & Tolerance”, Berlin (2011);40. World Gallery of Cartoons, Skopje, Macedonia – Special Award (2012), Award of the Council of the “More Beautiful Poland” Movement, Warsaw 2013; 20th Euro-Kartoenale, Kruishoutem, Belgia – Prize of European Cartoon Center (2015); XVII Porto Cartoon World Festival, Portugalia – Mention (2015); 35th International Nasreddin Hodja Cartoon Contest, Istanbul, Turkey – Honour Prize (2015); 2nd Prize, 6th Cartoonale “De Geus” 2015, Lebbeke, Belgia (2015); International Zagreb Car Cartoon Exhibit “Love at the wheel” – honorable mention.
Works in collections:
MCCA; Museu Nacional da Imprensa, Portugal; ECC Kruishoutem, Belgium; private
Collections in Poland and abroad.