The Dark Fantasies of Zdzislaw Beksinski

Zdzislaw Beksinski created a great deal of high fantasy works that easily overlap with the horror world. Sadly, this Polish artist is still mostly unknown among horror and surreal circles in the West. I would not be surprised to see this change in the near future, however. Beksinski, tragically murdered in 2005, has left to posterity a large number of works capable of rivaling H.R. Giger and other dark surrealists.

Nearly all of Beksinski’s works, without exception, contain a tinge of the dark and grotesque. The paintings themselves can be said to display fantasy, gothic, sci-fi, and even post-apocalyptic themes. As his life went on, his own attraction to the darker representations of art only increased. Thus, the height of his career is crowned with a surfeit of disturbing fantasy visions and impressive, frightening creatures. Religious symbols like crosses also appear prominently in many of his later works.

Though I could find no mention of Beksinski ever reading Lovecraft, I would not be surprised if his influence was present. Many of the artist’s works include what can only be described as scenes from other dimensions, as well as horrors of great antiquity—both common Lovecraftian fare. In any event, a large collection of his paintings (alongside some other very talented artists) can be viewed at this online gallery provided by Iluminatornia Gnosis.

-Grim Blogger