Nikifor tomb

Nikifor lived alone, in poverty, being considered intellectually disabled most of his life. He spoke gibberish and indistinctly. He was absorbed in painting passion. At the end of his life, he was appreciated and recognized in the world as an outstanding primitive painter.

Nikifor's work was discovered in 1930 by the Ukrainian painter Roman Turin, who introduced it to Polish and Ukrainian Kapist painters who were staying in Paris. Nikifor's paintings aroused their admiration, they focused primarily on the flawless use of color. However, the enthusiastic opinions of the artistic community did not change the unfavorable attitude towards his work - he still did not find buyers for his works and understanding for his art.

From 1960 until his death, Nikifor was looked after by Marian Włosiński, a painter from Krynica. He sacrificed his talent for him and created conditions for him to work and live, and after Nikifor's death he took care to preserve his work.

Nikifor Krynicki died in the tuberculosis hospital (currently the Nursing Home) in Folusz near Jasło. He was buried in Krynica.

In 1995, a museum was opened in Krynica - the Nikifor Museum - "Romanówka" Art Gallery, a branch of the District Museum in Nowy Sącz. It is no exaggeration to say that Nikifor has become the most famous "ambassador of Krynica" in the world. In recent years, a monument has been erected on the main alley leading to the promenade, showing a painter sitting on a wall with a brush in his hand - exactly in the same pose as he did when he was alive. A similar monument can also be found in the old town of Lviv.

The grave of Nikifor Krynicki, actually Epiphanius Drowniak, is located in the municipal cemetery at Św. Włodzimierz. There are two inscriptions on Nikifor's grave in the Krynica cemetery: "Nikifor Krynicki" in Latin and "Epifanij Drowniak" in Cyrillic.