Stone as the main character
Jarosław Kolec has been exploring the secrets of rock crystal, striped and chocolate flint, and amber for four decades. For him, these are not just materials, but also a source of inspiration and storytelling. In his jewellery, it is the stone that plays the most important role. The form, colour, pattern and optical properties of the stone determine the shape of the final piece, which is created in the spirit of minimalist aesthetics and respect for nature.
It couldn't be any less – and what is being created displays the characteristics of the material from which it was made – emphasises the artist, faithful to the principle of simplicity and harmony with the surrounding world.
Silver serving the stone
At the exhibition we will see works in which silver serves as a discreet complement, enhancing the beauty and uniqueness of the stone. Rock crystal, thanks to its transparency and play of light, becomes an almost magical element in his works, creating reflections and delicate highlights. Striped flint – a stone closely associated with the Sandomierz region – as well as amber and chocolate flint appear in the compositions, also giving them a local and historical dimension.
Creative process – dialogue with nature
Jarosław Kolec’s creative process is a journey from intuition to precise form. The stone „leads” the artist, and he strives to adapt the design to its natural characteristics and limitations.
I'm trying to get along with the raw material – if I meet its requirements, it will meet my expectations – he says.
The result is jewellery that is simultaneously a functional object and a carrier of deep meanings.
Artist and expert
Kolec is not only a creator, but also an expert – a graduate of the Władysław Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź, a diamond valuer and a board member of the Polish Gemmological Society. For years he has run the Studio of Technology and Materials Science at his alma mater, and his works have been awarded many times in national and international competitions, including in Gdańsk, Sandomierz and Legnica.
Dialogue with tradition and local heritage
The exhibition „With Heart to Stone” is also a dialogue with tradition and local heritage. Part of the exposition comes from the collections of the Castle Museum, which holds one of the most valuable collections of striped flint jewellery in Poland. Thanks to this, the display is complemented by works documenting the development and evolution of Kolec's oeuvre since the beginning of the 21st century.
Mythology and symbolism of stones
Jarosław Kolec's jewellery also conceals a fascination with myths and the symbolism of stones, which have captured the human imagination for centuries. The artist draws inspiration from legends, such as the Persian tale about stones created by the devil, which were meant to arouse desire in people's hearts. This gives his work an additional dimension, combining an aesthetic function with story and emotion.
„With Heart and Stone” is an exhibition that invites you to view jewellery not only as adornment, but as a story of nature, history and the spiritual dialogue between creator and matter. It is an invitation to discover the beauty and mystery locked within stones, which Jarosław Kolec presents with extraordinary sensitivity and respect.
Jarosław Kolec's exhibition of works „With Heart to Stone”
Castle Museum in Sandomierz
8 August – 28 September 2025
private view: 8th August at 6 pm
Recommended: With a heart for stone. Jewellery by Jarosław Kollec
