Jacek Piotrowski

Born in Bytom and raised in Gliwice. A graduate of the Silesian University of Technology, specializing in power engineering—preferably nuclear. A professional IT manager. It was in Gliwice that he fell in love with live music. Thanks to the SCK “Gwarek” cultural center, he discovered jazz, punk rock, and many other genres.

From 1982 to 1990, he worked as a sound engineer (acoustic engineer) with two Silesian bands, gaining firsthand insight into the music scene. Between 1983 and 1988, he collaborated with the Student Artistic Agency Alma-Art. To this day, he preserves photographs from festivals such as Boom Jazz (Gliwice), Jazz Juniors (Kraków), and images of bands like Kult and T.Love.

Since 1989, he has focused on his professional career. Fortunately, a few years ago, he returned to photographing music. The results:

• Twice ranked in the Top 30 of Jazz World Photo, including 3rd place in this prestigious international jazz photography competition (2024)
• Three times in the Top 33 of the Marek Karewicz “MK Jazz Photo” competition
• Regular contributor to the music magazine “Jazzpress” (jazzpress.pl), where he publishes not only photographs but also reviews and event reports

In music, he seeks emotion and energy. He loves electric jazz and big bands. His favorite instruments include bass guitar, drums, and the Fender Rhodes piano.

Today, he proudly calls himself: PHOTOGRAPHER

From the Author:

I have been photographing music since my student years. Student clubs filled with jazz and rock music were my first school of visual sensitivity to the sounds coming from the stage. My collaboration with the Student Artistic Agency “Alma Art” deepened my involvement in musical life—not just as an observer, but as an active participant, though with a different, optical instrument.

Family life, being a father of two, and a career in IT limited my activity in this field for many years. Fortunately, in recent years, I have returned to this passion. Combining my professional life with music photography provides the balance I need and gives me a sense of fulfillment. Today, I can proudly say: Photographer. A regular contributor to “JazzPress,” a participant in numerous cultural and music events.

In my photographic work, I focus on people and the emotions that arise from engaging with culture and with one another. I photograph music in many forms, sharing my images with musicians and audiences. It is a great pleasure to pursue my passion in a professional way.

“Where Sound Becomes Image”

I matured toward exhibiting my work for a long time. Many friends encouraged me, but I always felt something was missing—a unifying idea that would justify stepping out and sharing my work more broadly. This phrase, along with a concrete proposal of time and place, ultimately led to this exhibition.

Selecting 44 photographs out of 50,000 was no easy task. The works on display were created between 2017 and early 2025. Why this timeframe? A key moment was the prestigious international jazz photography competition Jazz World Photo. In the 2018 edition (featuring photos from 2017), one of my works was selected among the top 30 and presented in a traveling post-competition exhibition worldwide. Not bad for a debut.

In the following years, I participated in and received recognition in further music photography competitions. The decisive moment came when I learned that my photograph had won 3rd place in the world in the 2024 Jazz World Photo competition. The circle was complete.

What connects the presented works? Above all, the emotions of musicians during performances—the energy flowing from the stage to the audience and back again. Many of these works resemble portraits, captured live in the moment. Only one is a deliberate studio portrait. Some images show the broader context of events, including the anticipation before they begin.

The exhibition includes award-winning photographs, works published in music magazines (I recommend the online version of Jazzpress), images shared on social media and musicians’ platforms, and some being shown publicly for the first time.

Photography only makes sense when it is shared. And there is no better way than viewing prints on real paper. Sociologists and cultural anthropologists point out a simple truth—photos stored on hard drives or digital media tend to disappear. As someone from the IT industry, I confirm: they fade from memory and from our field of view.

That is why, despite the extra effort and cost, I encourage printing photographs and experiencing them—together or alone. I hope this exhibition inspires you to do just that, and also to actively participate in music events. Artists need it, culture needs it, and we need it.

If these images move you—if you feel the energy and emotions from stages around the world—it will be my greatest reward.

📅 April 1–30
📍 Plac Konesera
🎟️ Free entry