Born in Sosnowiec, 1956; professor, graduate of the Katowice Faculty of Graphic Art of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków; honours degree in the Studio of Book Design headed by Professor Stanisław Kluska and the Studio of Drawing and Painting headed by Professor Jerzy Duda-Gracz (1982); former head of Galeria Obok housed in Teatr Mały in Tychy (1995–1999); since 1999 a lecturer in Department of Painting of Cieszyn-based Faculty of Art of the University of Silesia – currently an Associate Professor at the University of Silesia and teacher at the Secondary of Arts in Bielsko-Biała. Winner of scholarship from the Minister of Culture and Art received in 1983 and 1988. Winner of 20 awards and distinctions in painting competitions, including “Bielska Jesień” in Bielsko-Biała (1984, 1987), the Festival of Polish Contemporary Painting in Szczecin (1998), the Biennial of Small Painting Forms in Toruń (1997), the “Work of the Year” in Katowice (1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2005), the “Music in Painting” in Tychy (1988, 1990, 2000, 2002, 2004), the Artwork Exhibition by Artists of the Silesia Region in Bielsko-Biała (2004), the “I Am” Artwork Exhibition by Artists of the Silesia Region in Katowice (2006). Elżbieta Kuraj’s creative work preserves some of the immortal characteristics of traditional painting, such as colour and flatness. The artist draws from various sources of fascination of painting matter, focusing on its traditional material which is paint. It is in these areas that she pursues her artistic experimentation, leading to both virtuosity of workmanship and a unique system of visual articulation. These means of expression guarantee artistic autonomy – an elusive goal for many a contemporary artist.