January 16 – February 28, 2026
Print Related
Celebrating 120 Years of Abstract Art: 1906-2026
The Main Gallery
Presented for the 2026 EXPOSURE Festival of Contemporary Photography
Opening Reception for Members and Guests: Friday January 16th, 7 – 9 pm
Free admission
Print Related is a collaborative exhibition project featuring intaglio prints and photography by Mississauga-based artist couple Leszek and Lynn Wyczolkowski. The exhibition highlights time-honoured techniques – etching and aquatint – through Leszek’s contemporary, geometrically driven works that edge on minimalism, and Lynn’s insightful photographic documentation of her husband’s creative process.
Leszek Wyczolkowski’s (pron. Leshek Veechoolkovsky) art reflects a continual search for harmony between two worlds: one defined by intellect, geometry, and order, grounded in refined craftsmanship; the other: organic, intuitive, and emotionally sensitive. This duality forms the conceptual foundation of his work, offering a point of departure for the viewer’s imagination.
Motifs of the circle and square, simplified compositions, negative space, embossing, and harmonic balance invite contemplation and introspection. Leszek’s intaglio prints merge natural textures with geometric forms, creating a dialogue between similarity and contrast- always with the intent of achieving balance. His later works emphasize embossing, enhancing the tactile quality of handmade paper while subtly defining space through whisper-like grids. These embossed areas are not static; they suggest transition and movement, inviting the viewer into the space of possibility.
Over time, Leszek has developed two distinct yet interconnected series of etched zinc plates. One explores pure geometry, often through pairings of circles and squares. The other incorporates natural patterns: tree cross-sections, bark, vegetation, lunar orbs, and magnified organic forms – geometries found within nature.
Uninked plates are occasionally introduced, producing embossed fields that define spatial order with quiet restraint. Colour, when used, is purposeful and minimal – often to contrast the richly saturated black plates. Leszek hand-mixes his inks using pure stone-ground pigments and linseed oil, precisely adjusting hue and viscosity.
Though grounded in structure, Leszek’s works remain emotive and dynamic – proof that geometry can be expressive. His compositions are crisp, clean, and meditative, yet never cold.
Lynn Wyczolkowski’s photographs invite viewers into the intimate, creative environment of her husband, Leszek – a painter and intaglio printmaker. Through close-up imagery, she captures the intricate, often overlooked beauty of his tools, materials, and studio atmosphere.
More than documentation, Lynn’s photographs express the quiet intensity of the artistic process. She waits for the perfect light to highlight the poetic potential of utilitarian objects – dented cans veiled in drips of their contents, forming a rich decorative patina, etched plates, pigment jars – transforming them into still-life compositions that echo the old masters. Her macro lens captures texture and detail, allowing ordinary items to take on abstract and geometric appeal. From gem-toned pigments on marble slabs to burnishers and scrapers arranged like portraits, her work turns the printmaker’s workspace into a subject of beauty and reflection.
By emphasizing traditional methods – using only available light and avoiding digital manipulation – Lynn stays true to the authenticity of her subject. Her work demystifies the printmaking process and reminds viewers that etchings and aquatints are not reproductions, but original works printed one by one under the artist’s hand.
Both artists share a respect for tradition and a reverence for craftsmanship. Geometry and attention to detail echo through their distinct practices, revealing a quiet synergy shaped by years of creative exchange. Leszek uses the same labor-intensive processes that Rembrandt once did, while Lynn’s photographic approach remains intuitive and analog.
There is an educational element to this exhibition. Lynn’s images shed light on Leszek’s complex techniques, helping viewers appreciate the discipline and depth behind each intaglio print.
Jacek Malec
Exhibition Curator
Artist’s Biography
Leszek Wyczolkowski
“My art is the balance of two worlds. The first is one of geometry, intellect, and order, grounded in strong craftsmanship. The second is soft, organic, sensitive, and instinctive. These combined form the foundation of my work and the starting point of the viewer’s imagination. There is a strong cohesiveness with nature – things organic and cosmic, with glimpses of life seen under a microscope. My works are based on logic and balance. I want my art to invite contemplation – something essential to discovering oneself and one’s connection to the world. I strive to maintain a dialogue with the viewer. I don’t provide answers; I allow the response to be shaped by the individual who sees it.”
Lynn Wyczolkowski
“Since childhood, I’ve felt compelled to remember places and details with precision – this deeply influences my photography today. I work with traditional methods and available light, embracing both its benefits and its challenges. I’ve always been drawn to details. My macro lens has become an ally in amplifying the beauty of the often overlooked. While I previously focused on floral images using transparency film, more recently I’ve sought beauty in the utilitarian and everyday objects that surround us. Photographing my husband Leszek’s studio has been a major source of inspiration. I hope to invite viewers to take a second look at the world—to discover design, beauty, and nuance in the smallest things.”
Top Image: Bond (detail) 2008; aquatint, etching and embossing, 30 x 22 inch. Team Intaglio (detail) 2022; photography, 12 x 18 inch.
Courtesy of the artist
