The artist and his extraordinary path
Nikifor — in fact Epifaniusz Drowniak — was a Lemko born in Krynica around 1895. For much of his life he remained on the margins of the community, painting alone in the streets of the spa town before the world noticed his talent.
His work began to be exhibited and valued at home and abroad, and Nikifor went from being a poor, misunderstood artist to one of the most recognisable painters of naive art. He died in 1968, forever bound to the Krynica he recorded in his pictures.
The collection in the villa “Romanówka”
The museum occupies the wooden villa “Romanówka”, built in the second half of the 19th century in the Swiss style characteristic of Krynica. The building itself is a valuable example of the old spa architecture.
The collection holds watercolours, gouaches and drawings from various periods of the artist's work. The motifs closest to Nikifor return again and again: landscapes with Eastern-rite and Roman Catholic churches, the architecture of Krynica, interiors, railway stations and fanciful, invented buildings.
Worth knowing
- The villa “Romanówka” — a historic wooden building in the Swiss style, an attraction in itself.
- Naive art — vivid watercolours and gouaches full of churches and fanciful architecture.
- Location — in the centre of Krynica, close to the promenade and the Main Pump Room.
- A record of the place — the story of the Lemkos and the many cultures of the Sącz region.
How to get there and practical info
- Location
- The centre of Krynica-Zdrój, the villa “Romanówka”
- Type
- A biographical and art museum
- Time needed
- About 45–60 minutes
- Who it suits
- Art lovers, families and spa visitors
- Tickets
- Charged; check the current prices before your visit
- Tip
- Combine it with a walk along Krynica's promenade
When to go
A quiet start to the season — a good time to see the villa's interiors in peace.
The height of the spa season; the museum is a pleasant escape from the heat and the crowds on the promenade.
Golden Krynica all around — a museum visit goes well with an autumn walk.
A warm refuge between skiing and resting at the spa.
Other sights in Krynica-Zdrój
Straight-line distances from „The Nikifor Museum" — calculated from real coordinates. By road it is often further.
Where to stay nearby
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