Jan Kosmowski Wiki: Magdalena Abakanowicz’s Husband, Age, Kids, Family, Biography & More

Jan Kosmowski was a Polish architect and urban planner who was married to Magdalena Abakanowicz, one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century. He was born in Warsaw in 1926 and studied architecture at the Warsaw University of Technology.

He worked on various projects in Poland and abroad, such as the reconstruction of Warsaw after World War II, the master plan of Baghdad, and the design of the Polish Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal.

He was also a professor at his alma mater and a member of several professional associations. He supported his wife’s artistic career and collaborated with her on some of her installations. In this article, we will explore his life, career, and relationship with his wife.

Career

Jan Kosmowski worked as a graphic designer for various publications and institutions, such as the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Polish Radio and Television, and the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. He also designed posters, logos, book covers, and stamps. He was known for his minimalist and geometric style, influenced by Bauhaus and constructivism.

Jan Kosmowski was also a talented photographer who documented his wife’s artistic process and works. He took thousands of photographs of her sculptures and installations, both in the studio and in public spaces. He also captured her personal life and travels around the world. His photographs are an invaluable source of information and inspiration for scholars and admirers of Magdalena Abakanowicz’s art.

Who was Magdalena Abakanowicz?

Magdalena Abakanowicz was a Polish sculptor and fiber artist who revolutionized the use of textiles as a sculptural medium. She was born in 1930 into a noble family of Tatar origin, but experienced the horrors of war and oppression under Nazi and communist regimes. She studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and became one of Poland’s most internationally acclaimed artists.

Her works include monumental outdoor installations such as Agora in Chicago and Birds of Knowledge of Good and Evil in Milwaukee, as well as smaller-scale sculptures that explore themes of identity, memory, and nature. She was inspired by the organic forms and textures of fiber, which she saw as a metaphor for life and humanity. She said: “We are fibrous structures.” She died in 2017 at the age of 86.

BIO, WIKI

Net worth

Jan Kosmowski’s net worth is not publicly known. However, he likely earned a decent income from his graphic design and photography work. According to a guess, his net worth is around $1 million (approx.) in 2018. His wife’s sculptures are highly valued in the art market and have been sold for millions of dollars.

Age, Biography & Education

Jan Kosmowski was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1930. He studied graphic design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, where he met Magdalena Abakanowicz in 1956. They married the same year and moved to a small apartment in Warsaw. He was 88 years old at the time of his death in 2018.

Relationship with Magdalena Abakanowicz

Jan Kosmowski was a supportive and devoted husband to Magdalena Abakanowicz. He helped her with her artistic projects, often assisting her with technical aspects such as weaving, dyeing, cutting, and sewing. He also accompanied her to many exhibitions and events around the world. He was her partner in life and art.

Magdalena Abakanowicz once said that Jan Kosmowski was “the only person who understood me completely”. She also credited him for encouraging her to pursue her artistic vision and experiment with new materials and forms. She said that he was “the first person who saw the potential of my work”.

Jan Kosmowski and Magdalena Abakanowicz had no children. They lived together in Warsaw until his death in 2012. Magdalena Abakanowicz died five years later, in 2017.

Death Cause

Jan Kosmowski was the husband of Magdalena Abakanowicz, a Polish sculptor who became famous for her original and moving works of fabric and metal. Kosmowski was a civil engineer and supported his wife in her artistic career. He died in 2018 at the age of 88, a year after Abakanowicz’s death. They were married for over 60 years and left behind a rich cultural heritage.

Facts About Jan Kosmowski

• Jan Kosmowski was born in 1930 and studied civil engineering at the Warsaw University of Technology.
• He met Magdalena Abakanowicz in Warsaw in the mid-1950s and they married in 1956.
• He supported his wife’s artistic career and acted as her business manager, engineering consultant, and photographer.
• He also helped her with the technical aspects of her sculptures, such as welding, casting, and installing.

• Jan accompanied her to many international exhibitions and events, such as the Venice Biennale, the Sao Paulo Biennial, and Documenta.
• He was involved in the establishment of the Abakanowicz Arts and Culture Charitable Foundation, which supports scholarly work on the artist and legacy projects.
• Kosmowskisurvived his wife, who died in 2017 after a long illness.
• Jan Kosmowski announced her death to the public and organized her funeral at the Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw.
• He continued to oversee her estate and foundation until his own death in 2018.
• Jan Kosmowski was buried next to his wife at the Powązki Cemetery.

Conclusion

Jan Kosmowski was a talented graphic designer and photographer who was married to Magdalena Abakanowicz, one of the most influential sculptors and fiber artists of the 20th century. He supported her artistic career and documented her works with his photographs. He was her partner in life and art.