What is it about the human spirit that causes people to make things? What flows in the pulse of humanity that compels the making of art? How do we recognize the innate roots of the creative impulse imbedded in the human genome? Finding Roman Golla is an exhibition exploring this human need for connection through art. It does so by presenting the art of one self-taught individual, who shares, with the many the Naïve, Outsider, and Visionary artists of the world, the compulsion to communicate through art.
Roman Golla never self-identified as an artist, but, at age 46, over a dozen years after immigrating to America, this all changed. Though he had dabbled in carving, Roman felt the need to paint. He used his brush to give voice to memories of his native Poland, stories and myths he held dear, imaginations of places he had never been, and his passion for chess. He was, it should be noted, a chess master. He played in the US Open Chess Tournaments in 1953, 1961, and 1963.
Discovering this and other aspects of his life informs our view of human creative action. Knowing Roman to have died a pauper, without family or fanfare, in 2001 is sad, but to see the man through his paintings is pure magic. Roman’s art is alive, and the stories he shares through his paintings excite the imagination and warm the heart. And, this is the beauty of artists who, without prior training, find voice through the making of art: they provide a brief glimpse of the soul of humanity.
The portfolio below is from the known works of Roman Golla. Many of them will appear in the exhibition at the Crisp Visual Art Center in April 2018. Some have been previously shared on The Unintended Curator. I hope you enjoy this preview of the exhibition, Finding Roman Golla.
Bobcat Catching Snow Rabbit, 1964/65
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 24”x30”, 60.9 x 76.2
NS2014.002
Hummingbirds with Floral Background II, Circa 1977
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 18” x 24,” 45.7cm x 60.9cm
NS2014.066
Pairing Time, 1978
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 24” x 28.5,” 60.9 cm x 72.4 cm
NS2014.029
Tiger, 1978
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 23.5” x 24.5,” 59.7 cm x 62.2 cm
NS2014.065
Historical Chess Game Ending Position in Tournament, 1971/72
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 20” x 24,” 50.8cm x 60.9cm
NS2014.015
Moving the Queen, 1969
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 20” x 24.” 50.8 cm x 60.9 cm
NS2014.064
Chess Puzzle, 1979
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 24” x 48” 60.9 x 121.9
NS2014.070
Five Goral Dancers, Circa 1980
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 24” x 36,” 60.9 cm x 91.4cm
NS2014.054
The Concert Campfire, Circa 1979
Roman Golla
Oil on Canvas, 22” x 28,” 55.9 cm x 71.1 cm
NS2014.046
Gypsy Musicians by a Camp Fire, Circa 1979
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 40” x 50,” 101.6cm x 127cm
NS2014.012
Young Goral with Mandolin, Circa 1978
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 30” x18,” 76.2 cm x 45.7cm
NS2014.042
The Concert, Circa 1980
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 24” x 36” 60.9cm x 91.4cm
NS2014.076
Casmir the Restorer, Circa1980’s
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 36” x 48,” 91.4 cm x 121.9 cm
NS2014.075
Oynyena Maria, The Fire Goddess, 1974/75
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 20” x 16” 50.8 cm x 40.6 cm
NS2014.033
The Maiden (Dziewona), Circa 1977
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 24” x 48” 60.9 cm x 71.1 cm
NS2014.073
Flora (Floral Parade), 1969/67
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 36” x 48,” 91.4 cm x 121.9cm
NS2014.010
The Baptizing of Jesus, Circa 1979
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 40” x 50,” 101.6 cm x 127 cm
NS2014.030
Buffalo Hunt (After George Catlin), Circa Late 1970
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 24” x 48” 60.9 cm x 121.9cm
NS2014.077
Indian Sunset Camp, Circa 1972
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 24” x 48,” 60.9cm x 121.9cm
NS2014.072
Indian Sunset, Circa1972
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 24” x 48,” 60.9 cm x 121.9 cm
NS2014.017
Wedding Party, Circa 1979
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 24” x 48,” 60.9cm x 121.9cm
NS2014.071
Following the River in Winter, Circa 1980
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 24” x 36,” 60.9cm x 91.4cm
NS2014.055
The Winter Escort, Circa 1979
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 20” x 24,” 50.8 cm x 60.9 cm
NS2014.047
Lady Lion Tamer, 1970
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 22.5” x 29,” 57.2 cm x 73.7cm
NS2014.008
Neptune and Two Mermaids in an Aquarium, 1971
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 36” x 48,” 91.4 cm x 121.9 cm
NS2014.016
The Lady from Spain, 1969/70
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas, 24”x36,” 60.9 cm x 91.4 cm
NS2014.007
Kosciusko, Lincoln, and Kennedy, 1969/70
Roman W. Golla
Oil on Canvas with artist-made frame, 12”x 20,” 30.5 cm x 50.8 cm
NS2014.009
Featured Image: Mares and Foals in Landscape (After George Stubbs), 1970, oil on canvas, NS2014.062.
As always, I appreciate your comments.
The Unintended Curator 
Will there be a catalog? A guy that works with me at the bank I’m at worked with Roman for 15yrs and he’s knowledgeable of a lot of romans paintings and would like to know if you will have any catalogs for the exhibit.
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Danny, I have a catalog written, but have not found funding to publish. I will be putting together a brochure and would be happy to provide your friend with a copy of the copyrighted manuscript of the catalog.
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