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Stanisia, Sister Maria
Artist, painter. Member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Born in Chicago, Ill., of the Polish family, Kurkowski; began to paint at eight. Professor Thaddeus Zukotynski, noted Polish painter, taught her the art of religious painting, landscape painting, and sculpture. In 1920 Sister Stanisia, a teacher at the Academy of Our Lady, was commissioned to restore some of the precious frescos of Zukotynski. After his death, she continued her studies at the Chicago Art Institute. Restored frescos in St. Stanislaus, St. Hyacinth and Holy Cross churches in Chicago. Sister Stanisia is perhaps the most widely known of women painters throughout the Catholic World in both the U.S. and Europe. Some of her paintings are: Portrait of Bishop John Francis Noel, of Fort Wayne diocese, Ind.; St. Theresa; Sacred Heart of Jesus. Founder of Fine Arts Guide in Chicago and Milwaukee, Wis. In 1932 she was awarded a silver medal at the International Fair, Warsaw, Poland. The American Art Society paint a portrait of His Holiness painting at Holy Family Academy, Chicago, Ill. In 1934 painted a portrait of E. Kelly, mayor of Chicago, and in 1933 of Governor Horner of Illinois. Address: 95th and Throop St., Longwood, Chicago, Ill.

From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943

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