JAN MATEJKO (1838-1893) - great Polish painter, graduated at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow and studied in Munich. He spent all his life in Krakow, where he was painting historical masterpieces and portraits. He was a great patriot, what is noticeable in his paintings. His influence on Krakow and its inhabitants' intellectual life was remarkable due to the fact that he became a director of the Academy of Fine Arts and held this post for many years. Matejko created two main historic paintings cycles: the first one, begun with the painting 'Stanczyk' was a stroke dialed to nobles, whom he accused for the loss of Poland's independence. The second, created after the January Uprising defeat, was to strengthen Poles, as the paintings were presenting glorious deeds of Polish nation.

STANISLAW WYSPIANSKI (1869-1907) - remarkable Polish painter and writer. He was a student of Jan Matejko in Krakow Academy of Fine Arts, then went to Paris to study at Academie Colarossi and finally came back to his birthplace, Krakow, and started another faculty at Jagiellonian University - Philosophy. By the end of his life he became a professor of Krakow's Academy of Fine Arts. Wyspianski was a master of portraits and landscapes, especially with crayon. Main themes of his paintings are: maternity, children faces, self-portraits and Kosciuszko mound, which often had a symbolic character. He was also a designer of cathedral interiors, stained glass, furniture, theatrical decorations and costumes, his dramas' stage designs and book illustrations.

JOZEF CHELMONSKI (1849-1914) - studied in drawing school and also took private lessons from Wojciech Gerson. Then went to Germany and studied at Munich Academy. In 1875 Chelmonski went to Paris, where, after some time, he gained an unusual popularity due to the fact, that his paintings' themes had been appreciated by local public and critics. He traveled a lot for all his life: visited Italy and Ukraine many times. During his trips he was searching for an inspiration, which he found in landscapes of Europe. Chelmonski used to paint many genre scenes, inspired by Polish and Ukrainian country people life and also hunting scenes. His masterpieces were showing it very precisely and authentically as Chelmonski cared a lot about reconstructing nature's colours on canvas. Also Chelmonski's horses' paintings are remarkable because of fantastic movement expressing.

JACEK MALCZEWSKI (1854-1929) - Studied art in Krakow Academy of Fine Arts at Jan Matejko and then in Paris. In 1884 he went to an expedition as a drawer. The excursion took him to Asia Minor, Greece, Italy and Germany, where he stayed for couple of months. After then, he returned to Poland and settled down in Krakow. At the beginning he was painting numerous portraits and folk life scenes, but some time later Malczewski made a series of paintings illustrating the January Uprising and the martyrdom of its participants. His later creativity turned into symbolism -  paintings were abounding with sorrow and mystery, fantastic and unreal creatures, angels, etc. He joined some of them into series and triptychs. After the time of doubt, Malczewski returned to painting symbolic portraits of people dressed in marvelous costumes, surrounded by typical Polish landscape. Malczewski, the same as Wyspianski and Matejko, was a professor of Krakow Academy of Fine Arts.

WOJCIECH KOSSAK (1857-1942) - born in Paris, son of a remarkable Polish painter Juliusz Kossak. He studied as School of Fine Arts in Krakow and afterwards in Munich and Paris. After leaving Krakow in 1895, he went to Berlin where he worked for the emperor Wilhelm II. He traveled a lot - went to Spain, Egypt, London and Vienna. After his journeys he returned to Poland and in 1913 became a professor of Warsaw's School of Fine Arts. After the World War I he moved to Krakow but kept visiting Warsaw. Ten, for few years, lived in the USA. Kossak's paintings are mainly remarkable battle-pieces, historic and genre scenes, also some portraits. Regarded as a genius of historical painting, Wojciech Kossak became a creator of few panoramas all over the Poland, with the most famous one located in Wroclaw - Panorama Raclawicka - a great composition of battle of Raclawice.

STANISŁAW IGNACY WITKIEWICZ (1885-1939). Born in Warsaw, studied at Krakow Academy of Fine Arts between 1905 and 1910. At the time of studies, Witkiewicz was traveling around Europe: visited Italy, France and Germany. Few years after finishing studies, in 1914, Witkiewicz participated in Bronislaw Malinowski (polish explorer) expedition to Australia. Then, during the World War I he was an officer of Russian army. His early creation was influenced by Young Poland historical period but evaluated rapidly into expressionism. His paintings were composed of bright colors, windy lines and surrealistic patterns of deformed nature, animals and people. The passing time and hard life made him resign of painting and set up a company, which main purpose was to earn money on painting portraits and caricatures. He was also a philosopher, writer and photographer.

HENRYK STAZEWSKI (1894-1988) - studied in Warsaw's School of Fine Arts. His early creativeness had been referring to cubism, though later his works were inspired by suprematism, constructivism, neoplasticism and purism. After the World War II he was painting numerous portraits and creating compositions of paint and bas-reliefs by using many different patterns and materials, which made his masterpieces changeable and almost movable. Stazewski was also a wall painter, stage designs creator and graphic.

JERZY NOWOSIELSKI (1923) - studied in Krakow at Plastic Arts Institute and the Academy of Fine Arts. He is a creator of paintings, wall decorations and stage designer; painted also religious pictures, portraits, acts and still life. The main theme of his masterpieces is: old Russian icons, ancient Egypt art, geometric patterns and automatism. One of his greatest achievements is designing the interior for a church in Wesola near Warsaw, the liturgical clothes and implements.

MAGDALENA ABAKANOWICZ (1930) - studied at Warsaw's Academy of Fine Arts, now works as a professor of the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan. She is a sculptor of worldwide fame, who's specializing in creating huge compositions made of textile, wood and bronze - called 'abakans'. She became the most popular Polish artist, was granted with many awards, displayed numerous exhibitions all over the world and her master arts were one of the most popular Polish accents promoting Polish art abroad.