General Information
Established in 1818, the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts, or Krak贸w Academy of Fine Arts, is the oldest Polish fine arts academy. It is a state-run university that offers 5- and 6-year Master’s degree programmes. The main building following a neoclassical design by architect Maciej Moraczewski was erected in today’s Matejko Square in 1879.
History: Highlights
The Academy was originally a subdivision of the Jagiellonian University’s Department of Literature and was initially called School of Drawing and Painting. It received the status of an independent higher learning institution in 1873 under the name School of Fine Arts. In 1979, it was named after painter Jan Matejko, its founder and first rector.
History: Explained
Following the death of Jan Matejko in 1893, the next rector was Julian Fa艂at, who remained at his post until 1909. Fa艂at gave the Academy a new direction, hiring new art instructors associated with contemporary Western art philosophies; painters such as Teodor Axentowicz, Jacek Malczewski, Jan Stanis艂awski, Leon Wycz贸艂kowski, Konstanty Laszczka, J贸zef Mehoffer, Stanis艂aw Wyspia艅ski, Wojciech Weiss and J贸zef Pankiewicz.
In 1900, the university received the title of the Academy of Fine Arts and new subjects, namely graphics and architecture, were introduced. In 2008 the Academy joined Icograda (the International Council of Graphic Design Associations) and became that organisation’s first educational member in Poland.