At Sacred Art Gallery, we have the pleasure of representing artist Kevin Pawlowski and displaying his masterwork, an original oil painting of Saint Maximilian Kolbe. Finished on August 14, 2023, the feast day of St. Kolbe, this 24 by 30 inch oil painting on canvas was awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2023 Catholic Art Institute Sacred Art Prize, standing out among nearly 400 global entries. Behind this celebrated composition lies four months of intense theological research, deliberate reference building, and meticulous traditional oil painting.

Born Rajmund Kolbe in 1894 in Zduńska Wola, Poland, Saint Maximilian Kolbe lived a life defined by extraordinary devotion and total selflessness. As a young boy of twelve in 1906, Rajmund experienced a pivotal vision of the Virgin Mary, who offered him two crowns: a white crown representing purity and a red crown representing martyrdom. When asked to choose, he chose both.

In 1910, he entered the Conventual Franciscans, taking the name Maximilian. Deeply committed to Marian devotion, he founded the Militia of the Immaculata movement and launched modern publishing operations, including the widely circulated magazine Rycerz Niepokalanej (“Knight of the Immaculata”), first printed in 1922.

During World War II, Father Kolbe was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. In July 1941, when a prisoner escaped, camp guards selected ten men to die in a starvation bunker as collective punishment. Kolbe stepped forward and volunteered to die in place of Franciszek Gajowniczek, a stranger with a wife and children. Kolbe spent his final days consoling and praying with his fellow prisoners in the dark bunker before dying on August 14, 1941. He was canonized as a saint and martyr by Pope John Paul II in 1982.

Symbolic Depth Built into Every Brushstroke

Rather than depicting Saint Kolbe strictly as an emaciated victim at the end of his life, Kevin Pawlowski sought to paint a triumphant figure. The portrait incorporates rich layers of iconography that communicate the entire arc of Kolbe’s mission:

• Vision of the Two Crowns: On the right side of the canvas, the smoking chimneys of the Auschwitz crematorium ovens form the spiky silhouette of a red crown of martyrdom. On the left side, the snow-capped peaks of the Polish Tatra Mountains form the white crown of purity and chastity.
• Miraculous Medals (“Bullets”): Kolbe clutches the center medal of his rosary. Pawlowski intentionally emphasized this detail to honor Kolbe’s habit of distributing small Miraculous Medals, which the saint affectionately referred to as spiritual “bullets” in his evangelization work.
• Knight of the Immaculata Magazine: In his right hand, Saint Kolbe holds a copy of the inaugural issue of Rycerz Niepokalanej. A close look reveals subtle smudges of printer ink beneath his fingernails, honoring his active labor as a Catholic publisher.
• Distinctive Appearance: Pawlowski portrayed Kolbe with his signature beard, which he wore while serving as a missionary and leader, providing a look of calm resilience and spiritual authority.

The Research and Preparation Stage

To capture the true spirit of Saint Maximilian, Pawlowski began by immersing himself in biographical texts, including “Kolbe: Saint of the Immaculata,” edited by Brother Francis M. Kalvelage.

Initial conceptual sketches were developed digitally using an iPad and Procreate. Pawlowski gathered historical photography of Kolbe, but because grainy mid-century photographs lacked fine anatomical detail, the artist had to construct a complete reference system from scratch:

1. Hand-Sewn Garments and Live Models: Pawlowski hand-sewed the front of a Franciscan habit and used a denim jacket to stand in for the inmate coat.
2. Photography Sessions: Pawlowski posed for initial reference photos shot by his daughter Catherine. To refine the drapery, sleeve folds, and proportions, he later photographed his son Kyle posing in the robes.
3. Composite Digital Layout: Using Photoshop, Pawlowski merged portrait studies of Saint Kolbe’s face with light patterns, mountain vistas, and background elements, creating a precise 1:1 scale reference.

Before touching the main canvas, Pawlowski created full graphite portrait studies on grey paper as well as smaller oil value and color studies. These preparatory steps allowed him to test values, color harmonies, and facial structures before committing to the full-size painting.

The Traditional Painting Process

Guided by classical methods studied through the Grand Central Atelier tradition, under the mentorship of artist Diana Bruitrago, Pawlowski executed the final work over several stages:

1. Canvas Preparation and Transfer: The canvas was prepped with a raw umber wash. Pawlowski applied raw umber to the back of the printed reference drawing, laying it over the canvas and tracing the outlines to leave a crisp transferred line drawing.
2. Wash Underpainting: A thin solvent-based wash of raw umber established the initial tonal framework.
3. Sectional Application: Pawlowski worked methodically through localized areas, painting 4 to 6 hour sections starting from the background sky and moving forward.
4. Glazing and Scumbling: Following the traditional rule of working “thin to fat,” the artist built depth through glazes (transparent layers of oil) and scumbles (translucent layers mixed with white). This technique achieved soft atmospheric glow in the mountain sky, rich fabric textures, and subtle luminous details, such as the faint silver halo ringing the saint’s head and light passing through his ears.

Through months of continuous adjustment, Pawlowski refined the color palettes, shifting the brown tones of the Franciscan robe to an accurate grey and bringing balance to the light and shadows.

Experience Kevin’s Saint Maximilian Kolbe Painting ONLY at Sacred Art Gallery

Kevin Pawlowski’s portrait of Saint Maximilian Kolbe stands as a testament to how traditional fine art technique and deep spiritual devotion can converge. Sacred Art Gallery is proud to display this remarkable original oil painting alongside museum-quality giclée reproductions. We invite you to visit our gallery to experience the depth, light, and visual storytelling of this award-winning masterpiece in person.