List of people from Denver

This is a list of famous people who were born in, lived in, or are commonly associated with Denver, Colorado.

Denver natives

Born elsewhere, raised in Denver

These people were raised in Denver in their childhood years but were born elsewhere.

Denver transplants

These people lived in Denver as an adult, but were born and reared elsewhere.

Witold-K has been a Denver resident since 1979 to present. He was born and raised in Poland, moved to Paris, then to the U.S. Painter, sculptor, designer, architect, poet, university lecturer and political activist…this is Witold-K., (full name Wit Leszek Kaczanowski). During over sixty-five years of creative expression, Witold has designed buildings and pavilions at international fairs, executed anodized aluminum sculptures, created ceramics and stained glass, illustrated books, and designed posters, books and record covers. His over 60 one-man art exhibitions have appeared in major cities throughout Europe and the United States, and his works are in public and private collections throughout the world. Witold graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, where he majored in engineering and architecture. At the age of 27, however, after processing these early experiences through years artistic development, Witold was honored to be selected in 1959 as the architectural designer and muralist of the Aushwitz Cultural Center. The mural stretches across the ceiling (3,672 square feet), and is considered to be one of the largest frescoes in all of Europe. Witold’s later artistic brilliance was founded on a youth full of diverse experienes. He spent time during his youth on the streets during the Nazi occupation, mixing with professional gangs to survive. He risked his life daily stealing food, arms and ammunition from German camps. When he was 12 years old, he was caught by the Gestapo, beaten severely and left for dead. In addition, he lived in the largest mental hospital in Poland, where his father was psychiatrist and director. Between 1939 and 1945 Witold was surrounded by hundreds of war-torn patients fighting starvation. His father hid many Jews in the hospital from the Nazis, saved their lives, and the lives of his patients. After World War 2, Witold’s father became the Vice President of the Polish Red Cross and was personally decorated by King George the 6th. Witold’s mother, a doctor, painter and writer died of tuberculosis when he was only 16 months old. In 1964 Witold-K. received a cash award from the American Congress for Freedom of Culture in Paris for artistic accomplishments and for smuggling manuscripts of dissident writers from the Soviet Union and Poland to the West. Communist Polish authorities discovered that he had smuggled these works, which led Witold to avoid the country for several years for fear of punishment upon his return. When he left Poland he left behind two children which he re-connected with many years later.

In 1966, French poet Jacques Prevert wrote a poem to describe the impact Witold’s paintings had on him: English Translation of Prevert’s poem:

“Witold’s People . . . an undeniable feeling of presence and of secret charm. The mystery and the obsessive noise of the street. You follow their progress, but have only the hack view of them, and like them you will give a back view to other visitors who will take your place in front of the paintings; and other visitors . . .” In 1966 Witold exhibited in the 3+2 Gallery in Paris. In 1967, Prevert was so moved by Witold’s work that he introduced him to Picasso. Picasso and Witold spent time painting together and became friends. In 1967 Picasso painted Witold’s portrait.

Witold also had the honor of exhibiting at La Pochade in Paris in 1968. The same year, he decided to move to New York. When he moved, he left behind hundreds of paintings in private collections throughout Europe.

After a year in New York, Witold moved to Los Angeles and found friends in Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate, who let Witold use their house as a studio. Both surprisingly and fortunately, Witold was not at Polanski’s home on the night of the well publicized tragedy.

In 1973, the artist was singularly honored by the prestigious Otis Art Institute of Los Angeles County, with a Retrospective Exhibition (25 years of creativity). He also participated in the New York exhibition Graphics by Masters, featuring works by Picasso, Chagall, Miro, Braque and Giacometti, etc. He was commissioned to create a series of paintings for the United California Bank in Beverly Hills in 1970, and the Conoco Oil Company in Houston in 1973.

In about 1950, Witold had a vision of “black holes,” and became almost obsessed with the creation of a series of “Black Hole” paintings . . . before astrophysicists discovered their existence in the universe! Since 1974 he has been in involved in an extraordinary project in collaboration with Sterling Colgate, the physicist from Los Alamos Lab in New Mexico. Witold and Sterling aim to create a monument-sanctuary for all religions and beliefs. The explosion-sculpture will be the focal point of the underground meditation monument. The monument will symbolize a harmonious union between art and science.

“Explosions seem to govern our lives – both emotionally as well as throughout the physical universe. A monument of major proportions is needed to emphasize to the world the governing duality of the explosions that produce the Universe and the explosion of life that produced man.” ~Dr. Stirling A. Colgate, Los Alamos, NM

In 1992, Witold was commissioned to create a painting, which was reproduced as a poster and program cover for the Aspen Film Festival in Colorado.

In 2004, Witold was commissioned to do a painting for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. The painting was reproduced as a poster and has enjoyed tremendous commercial success, (proceeds of poster sales are donated to the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.)

The most prestigious Auction House in the world, Sotheby’s of Amersterdam, honored Witold with a one man show in 2007. The show was a tremendous success. Witold is the only American artist to ever have had this honor! Most recently Ron Henderson (denver international film festivel) is creating a documentary on the artist's life. He was also honored with a 50 year retrospective "From People to Black Holes" in Kraków, Poland at the Cultural Center, where his 4000 sq ft. mural was celebrated by all of Europe and the U.S. Allen Greenburg, was one of the many guests.

Other people associated with Denver

Fictional Denverites

See also

References

  1. ^ Soylent Communications. "Tim Allen". http://www.nndb.com/people/279/000025204/. Retrieved June 5, 2006. 
  2. ^ ATP Tennis. "Victor Amaya". Archived from the original on February 25, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060225164519/http://www.atptennis.com/en/players/playerprofiles/default2.asp?playernumber=A044. Retrieved June 5, 2006. 
  3. ^ America Online. "India Arie". http://music.aol.com/artist/indiaarie/475170/main. Retrieved June 5, 2006. 
  4. ^ Internet Movie Database. "Duane Chapman". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1738062/. Retrieved June 5, 2006. 
  5. ^ 2theadvocate.com | News | Architect Desmond dies — Baton Rouge, LA
  6. ^ [1] Dolan's entry at the New Zealand Book Council's directory
  7. ^ Internet Movie Database. "Jack Earle". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0247325/. Retrieved June 5, 2006. 
  8. ^ Internet Movie Database. "Hanna R. Hall". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0355632/. Retrieved June 5, 2006. 
  9. ^ Hoffman, Jascha. "Arnold Kramish, Expert on Nuclear Intelligence, Dies at 87", The New York Times, July 15, 2010. Accessed July 15, 2010.
  10. ^ Internet Movie Database. "Frank Welker". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919798/. Retrieved June 5, 2006. 
  11. ^ FOX Network. "Ace Young". Archived from the original on May 28, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060528185733/http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/ace_young/. Retrieved June 2, 2006. 
  12. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963. 
  13. ^ Andrew Jackson Rogers, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2, 2007.
  14. ^ The Soapy Smith Preservation Trust. "Soapy in Denver". http://www.soapysmith.net/page2.html/. Retrieved June 29, 2006. [dead link]


This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.