The art of , recently included in the Vatican Collection and blessed by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, continues to expand the realm of contemporary figurative painting to the limits achieved only by the greatest art masters in history. Evoking the passion of Michelangelo, the subtlety of Caravaggio and the flamboyance of Rubens, , also named one of the most collectible contemporary artists by Robb Report’s Best of the Best, resurrects the dormant classical tradition of painting in a XXI century tribute to the perseverance of the human ability and spirit, which transcends the ebbs and flows of modern fashions. Inherent in all of ’s original oils on canvas, ranging from large scale dramatic allegories to small, sensuous studies, is the artificial patina he adds on surface to create an illusion of an old fresco and accentuate the timeless subject matter. “By this juxtaposition of spiritual versus physical, I hope to convey the quality that transcends time and suggests the eternal nature of our ethical struggle for survival”, says Tomasz, “Hence, beauty and decay, creation and destruction as the woof and warp of my canvases". Conceived during the XVII Olympic Games in Rome, Italy, at the Olympic village by Tadeusz Rut, an Olympic athlete and medalist, and his wife, Wanda, an artist and art teacher, Tomasz was born in Poland in 1961 and displayed his extraordinary talent since early childhood.At the age of eleven, his first drawings, collected by his mother; frequently from his school notebooks in lieu of good school grades; were exhibited at a solo gallery show, receiving a write-up in Warsaw Daily. Even at that early stage, young Tomasz’s exploration, often satirical, of humanity and his search for an artistic expression, echoing a variety of familiar modern renditions and classical themes, is abundantly clear.Interestingly, apart from his prominent, mainstream realistic form of capturing his subject matter, TR never abandoned “frivolous”, abstract experimentation and satire, as evidenced in a multitude of private sketches and drawings he continues to amuse himself with in his spare time.In his twenties, TR extensively pursued formal art studies. He attended Pratt Institute in New York, but despite the recognition of the Presidents list, he chose to investigate the purely technical aspect of art, graduating with a Master’s Degree in Art Conservation from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. In the course of his studies, he became intimately familiar with all traditional easel and mural painting techniques, including varieties of oil and fresco, and gained a profound knowledge of art history and understanding of it's styles.While continually drawing and painting in search of a definitive form of expression, upon returning to settle in the U.S., Tomasz briefly employed his skills working for Biltmore House in Asheville, NC and on several mural conservation projects throughout the Eastern U.S., which included the prestigious Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the State Capitol in Trenton, N.J., Vizcaya Museum in Miami, FL and the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, FL.Within the following few years, his attention shifted to executing large scale decorative projects with many well known interior designers for numerous prominent Palm Beach and South Beach estates in Florida. “I must say I was quite taken by the splendor, aesthetic challenge and vast scale of some projects”, recalls Tomasz: “It took one year, eight assistants and approximately half a million dollars worth of 24 Karat gold leaf alone to turn one of the estates into a trompe l’oeil (deceive the eye) European palace”. “After this, I knew I could paint anything, in any style, anywhere, with anything and on anything”, he adds jokingly, but not without merit.Finding and formulating his own distinctive style and method of painting in the early 1990s, Tomasz gradually abandoned commissioned work and devoted himself fully to painting in his studio. “Before I even had a collection of paintings to speak of”, Tomasz says: “A British art publisher grabbed the few pieces I had laying around and introduced me to the idea and market of limited edition prints. My work was very well received and, shortly, appeared in many galleries on land and on cruise ships, marketed by my exclusive agents and publishers”. In 1999 Robb Report’s Best of the Best issue named as one of the most collectible contemporary artists, among such names as Botero, Chihuly, Hockney, and Clemente. After many years of being represented exclusively by others, is now marketing and selling his artwork independently, enjoying direct and personal contact with galleries and collectors. On October 12, 2011 during the artist’s audience with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, two large original paintings by officially entered St. Peter’s Cathedral becoming part of the Vatican collection.Today he paints and sculpts in his studio in Hollywood, FL, a large extension of his home, which he designed and built. Tomasz's home studio has been showcased in Florida Design Magazine. Among other creative hobbies, Tomasz enjoys working in his garden and gourmet cooking, featured in Miami Herald.He has hosted several collectors events at his house, personally taking his guests on the tours of his studio and entertaining them with food and wine from in own kitchen. paintings are included in the following private collections and museums: •His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI / The Vatican Collection•Alexander Brest Museum, FL•Mississipi Museum of Art, MS•Coral Springs Museum of Art, FL•The Shacknow Museum of Art, FL•Wake Forest University, NC•Mobile Museum of Art, AL•Ziegler Museum of Art, LO•Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, PA•Frye Museum of Art, WA•Colony Hotel, Palm Beach, FL •President Lech Walesa•Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah•Sylvester Stallone / Actor•Kirstie Alley / Actress•Nicolette Sheridan / Actress•Scott Stapp / Vocalist•Bob Turley / Baseball Player•Aubrey Huff / Baseball Player•Wayae Huizenga / Owner Miami Dolphins•Gianni Versace / Designer•Richard Himmel / Designer•William Eubanks / Designer•Tui Pranich / Designer•Scott Snyder / Designer•Lady Blanka Rosenstiel / Philanthropist•Countess Barbara Pagowska-Cooper / Philanthropist•Abraham Gosman / Businessman•Melvin Simon / Businessman•Gilbert Lehrmann / Businessman•Martin Gruss / Businessman•Alvin Malnik / Businessman•Norman Brinker / Businessman•Thomas Kramer / Developer•Bob Schultz / Author

Excellent