Background
Szostalo, Wiktor was born on August 22, 1952 in Pasvalis, Lithuania. Came to the United States, 1983. Son of Boleslaw and Natalia (Mikutowska) Szostalo.
Szostalo, Wiktor was born on August 22, 1952 in Pasvalis, Lithuania. Came to the United States, 1983. Son of Boleslaw and Natalia (Mikutowska) Szostalo.
From 1972-1978 he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, graduating with an Master of Fine Arts in painting and sculpture.
He works in a variety of media, most notably welded stainless steel, wood, and bronze. Szostalo was one of the founders of the Solidarity movement in Kolobrzeg and in March 1981 was elected the first Chairman of the Regional Board of "Solidarity" in Koszalin, which he represented in the 38-person National Committee headed by Lech Wałęsa. He was jailed for five months after the communist regime"s crackdown on "Solidarity" in December 1981.
He left Poland in 1982 for the United States, where he was granted political asylum.
In 1990, he became a United States citizen. He currently lives and works in both Saint Louis, Missouri and Kołobrzeg, Poland Szostalo is widely recognized for his large scale public sculpture commissions.
Departing from the more traditional method of bronze casting, these pieces are executed directly in welded stainless steel. They often incorporate additional elements such as cast crystal glass or carved wood.
Many of these works were commissioned by Catholic churches including the "Angel of Harmony" at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, the "Crucifix" at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Carmel, Indiana.
, and the "Pieta" at Christ Our King Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Other notable pieces include the "Millennium Memorial" commissioned by the city business council of Kołobrzeg, Poland, "At Long Last I got to Like Myself the Way I Am", commissioned by the Novol Corporation, Poznań, PL, and "Team Spirit", selected by the National Collegiate Athletic Association for their headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Chairman regional board Solidarity, Koszalin, Poland, l980-8l. Member honorary committee Solidarity Endowment, Washington, l985—. Member College Art Association.
Married Aleksandra Zawiska, July 27, l976 (separated June l987). L child, Michal A.