Alexandra Wejchert facts for kids

Alexandra Wejchert (born October 16, 1921 – died October 24, 1995) was a talented sculptor from Poland and Ireland. She was famous for creating art using cool materials like perspex (which is like a clear plastic), shiny stainless steel, bronze, and bright neon colors.

Alexandra's Early Life and Studies

Alexandra Wejchert was born in Kraków, Poland, on October 16, 1921. Her father, Tedeusz Wejchert, had a shipping business. In 1939, she started studying architecture at the University of Warsaw. While there, she saw the German invasion of Poland during World War II.

After finishing her architecture degree in 1949, she worked as a town planner in Warsaw. She also studied at the Academy of Fine Arts. She graduated from there in 1956 before moving to Italy.

Her Journey as an Artist

Wejchert's Geometric form at the University of Limerick

Alexandra Wejchert had her very first solo art show in 1959. It was held in Rome, Italy, at the Galeria dell’ Obelisco. Later, she returned to Warsaw. Her work was shown in a big exhibition at the National Museum of Poland in 1961. This show was called "Fifteen years of Polish art."

Even though she was still an architect, Alexandra didn't like the art style of the Soviet Union. This style was called social realism. So, in 1963, she decided to focus only on her art. In 1964, she left Poland, which was then a communist country. She moved to Dublin, Ireland, with her younger brother, Andrej Wejchert, and his wife, Danuta.

First Shows in Ireland and Beyond

In November 1966, Alexandra had her first solo show in Dublin. She displayed 30 paintings at The Molesworth Gallery. In 1967, she showed a piece called Blue relief. This was a wall sculpture that looked like a painting. It was an early example of her later free-standing sculptures.

Alexandra won the Carroll Open award in 1968 for her work Frequency No. 5. This was at the Irish Exhibition of Living Art. Also in 1968, she had a solo exhibition in Paris, France. She became a regular artist there. Her art was even used as a setting for an electronic music concert. People noticed her designs had a strong rhythm.

Public Art and Recognition

Starting in the 1970s, Alexandra Wejchert began getting requests for public art. Her first big public art piece was in 1971. It was a wood and acrylic wall sculpture for the arts building at University College Dublin. That same year, the Bank of Ireland bought her work Blue form 1971. They later bought Flowing relief in 1972.

Her large three-part artwork, Life, was made in 1971. It was created for the Irish Life headquarters in Abbey Street. The Lombard and Ulster Bank in Dublin asked her to create an untitled piece in 1980. AIB bought her sculpture Freedom in 1985. It was placed in their branch in Ballbridge. In 1975, she won a competition to design a stamp. The stamp was for International Women's Year. It showed hands reaching for a dove with an olive branch.

Alexandra became an Irish citizen in 1979. She joined Aosdána in 1981, which is a special group for Irish artists. In 1995, she became a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA). She gained international fame when she was the only Irish sculptor in Louis Redstone's book new directions (1981). Her work was shown many times at the Solomon gallery from 1989. This included a solo show in 1992.

Some of her most important sculptures were for Irish universities. These include Geometric form at the University of Limerick. Her last work was Flame at the University College Cork in 1995. Alexandra Wejchert passed away suddenly at her home in Dún Laoghaire on October 24, 1995. She had one son, Jacob. The RHA held a special exhibition of her work after she died in 1995. Alexandra Wejchert is known for inspiring younger Irish sculptors. These include Vivienne Roche, Eilis O'Connell, and Michael Warren. Her sculpture Flame was chosen for the Irish Artists' Century exhibition at the RHA in 2000.