Marek Grela, caricaturist, year ’86. Started his adventure with art early, winning the “Caricature” art contest in 1999, organised
by the “Rainbow” Cultural Centre in Tychy, his home town in Silesia. The following years were even more successful. It is worth nothing that at the age of 22 he was admitted to the Society of Polish Artists of Caricature. In 2010 he received an Honorable Mention for his artistic and social activity from His Magnificence Rector of the University of Silesia.

He was the main caricaturist of a TV gala of the ”Świry” national plebiscite in 2007-2008. Since then, Marek has been present
on TV on numerous occasions. Connoisseurs of “good cartoon” could see the artist on “Dzień dobry TVN” (TVN) and “Pytanie
na Śniadanie” (TVP 2). What is more, in 2014 his works were used during a TV gala of the “NIEGRZECZNI 2014” national plebiscite.

Marek Grela’s works could be seen in many cities in Poland: Warszawa, Katowice, Bytom or Tychy, also within collective exhibitions: 6th Saloon of the Society of Polish Artists of Caricature, 25th anniversary of the Society of Polish Artists of Caricature, the Festival of Absurd Culture “ABSURDALIA”.

A major breakthrough in Marek Grela’s career took place between 2013 and 2014.
At that time the SMILEsia Project took place across Poland. During the period of 10 months, the caricatures of the most famous Citizens of Silesia (Krystyna Loska, Joanna Bartel, Jerzy Buzek, Kazimierz Kutz and others) were shown in 14 cities: Warszawa, Wrocław, Katowice, Zamość, Łódź, Częstochowa, Jelenia Góra and Tychy, to name but a few. The indisputable success of this project was integrating this exhibition into “RYJEK” – The Rybnik Autumn Cabaret in 2013. The performing artists could see their caricatures which were later given to them during the Main Competition. Furthermore, the SMILEsia Project was present in the media: TVP, TVS, Radio Katowice. The artist was also asked to cooperate with the FORTUM Company, which invited him to take part in the “FORTUM dla Śląskich Dzieci” Project.

Marek made quite a name for himself. He is appreciated by both the artistic world and the public opinion, which can be proved
by his continuous cooperation with “Monitor Wielkopolski” (local government magazine), in which the readers can find the caricatures of Greater Poland Voivodeship councillors.

Year 2014 is a special time in Marek Grela’s career as he is celebrating the 15th anniversary of his work. Bearing in mind his achievements, it may be expected that the years to come will be equally fruitful and full of artistic passion as his previous 15 years.