Maria Uszacka
Born April 30, 1932, in Chełm – died October 23, 2017. A Polish graphic artist specializing in book illustration.
In 1957, she graduated from the Faculty of Graphic Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, studying in the studio of Jan Marcin Szancer. That same year, she participated in the exhibition Graphics and Illustration held at the Kordegarda Art Gallery in Warsaw.
Over the course of her artistic career, she illustrated more than fifty books for children and young adults. Among her most well-known works published by the Nasza Księgarnia Publishing Institute are illustrations for the books:
Chory kotek (The Sick Kitten) by Stanisław Jachowicz
Przepraszam smoku (Sorry, Dragon) by Wiera Badalska
Ten dziwny Eryk (That Strange Eryk) by Danuta Wawiłow
Katar żyrafy (The Giraffe’s Cold) by Ryszard Marek Groński
Bocianek (The Little Stork), Różowy balonik (The Pink Balloon), Krakowiaczek (Little Cracovian), Dlaczego cielę ogonem miele (Why the Calf Swings Its Tail), Ala ma kota (Ala Has a Cat) by Wanda Chotomska
O gadającym zegarze i maszynie do pisania wierszy (About the Talking Clock and the Poem-Writing Machine) by Sławomir Grabowski
For many years, she was associated with Miś, a monthly magazine for preschool-aged children. She also created the visual design for the 1976 animated film Awantura w Przechwałkowie (The Quarrel in Boastville), directed by Halina Filek.
Maria Uszacka took part in numerous exhibitions both in Poland and abroad, including solo and group shows.
In 1984, she received the Prime Minister’s Award for her work for children and young adults. In 2014, she was awarded a lifetime achievement medal in the field of graphic arts by the Polish section of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People).
For Nasza Księgarnia, she illustrated books by authors including Wiera Badalska, Wanda Chotomska, and Danuta Wawiłow.
