Barbara Kaczmarowska Hamilton

Barbara Kaczmarowska – Hamilton, known as Basia Hamilton was born in Sopot, Poland. Graduated from the Academy of Art in Gdansk and then continued her studies at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice and Rome. The artist became internationally famous thanks to her great skill in the art of portraiture. She specialises in portraits in oil and pastels.

Regarded by many as the “Ambassador of Poland in the West”, she is listed among the 50 citizens of Polish ethnic background, who made a significant impact on the life and history of the British Isles, among General Anders, Joseph Conrad, King Canute and Roman Polanski.

Her sitters include: His Holiness Pope John Paul II, H.M. Queen Elisabeth The Queen Mother, H.R.H. Princess Royal, H.R.H. The Duke of Kent, H.R.H. Prince Michael of Kent, Lech Walesa, H.R.H. The Maharaja of Jodhpur, H.R.H. Duke of Braganza, Princess Tatiana Metternich, Margaux Hemingway, Alberto Moravia, Giorgio de Chirico, Buzz Aldrin, and many others who all together constitute “the Hall of Fame” in her gallery.

In 1994, the Polish President and the Noble Prize Winner Lech Walesa awarded Basia Hamilton with the Order of Merit – “in recognition of her precious contribution to the spreading of Polish culture and art”.

She lives in Berkshire, UK, with her husband Ian and their sons Felix and Maximilian, and divides her working time between her studio in London, and travelling world-wide.

2nd Prize, 33rd Festival of Arts, BWA, Sopot

Bronze Medal, Polish Contemporary Painting Festival

Gold Medal, 3rd Biennale of Gdansk Art, Gdansk

2nd Prize – Biennale of Contemporary Art, Rome

1st Prize Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Rome

Bronze Medal, 4th Review of Contemporary Art, Fontana di Trevi

International Exhibition of Paintings and Sculptures of Young Artists, Rome

Order of Merit from Polish Government for promoting Polish Art and Culture in International arena

Order Bene Merito from Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2015

Zacheta Gallery, Warsaw

Royal Pastel Society, The Mall Galleries

Royal Portrait Society, London

Gdansk, 10th Festival of Polish Contemporary Art

Rome, Palazzo Nazionale

Rome, National Biennale of Modern Art

Venezia, Bevilaqua La Masa

Royal Lazienki Gallery, Warsaw

Residence of the British Ambassador, Warsaw

Partridge Gallery, London

European Academy for the Arts, London

Accademia Italiana, London

Polish Cultural Institute, London

Palm Beach, Florida

Liguanea Club Kingston, Jamaica

Polish Hearth, London

Palm Beach, Florida

Palm Springs, California

Polish Museum, Sikorski Institute, London

Palm Springs, California

Palm Beach, Florida

Gdansk, Sieñ Gdañsk

Galleria Il Trittico via Margutta

Cassel Gallery, London

Penellaccio, Rome

Gallery Picasso, Sassari

Gallery 8, Sopot, Poland

Testimonials