Stanislav Grezdo was born in communist Czechoslovakia in 1972. He grew up surrounded by beautiful imagery of Soviet Propaganda. in the year of 1986 he started studying at The Graphic School of Bratislava, located in the capitol city of Slovakia. His major was printing press operator with minors in graphic design, book-making, and typesetting. He also studied the history of printing and old crafts like woodcuts, intaglio, bookbinding...etc.
During his study in Graphic School many political changes were taking place in Czechoslovakia, and in all of Eastern Europe. The first big demonstration took place in 1988 in Bratislava, and was quickly scattered by the police. One year later huge protests began in both Prague and Bratislava. In the Graphic School, where Stanislav was attending, flyers were secretly being printed for the next protest meetings. All Czechoslovakia was on the streets demonstrating against the oppressive communist goverment. It was a good time.
After the communist era fell everyone had to return to a life of reality. Stanislav finished school in 1991 and found himself called into the army. After two months he was released from the army for health reasons. During this time Czechoslovakia had split into the Czech and Slovak republics. Stanislav started working in his home town in a print shop. He worked on old letter press machines and later on modern offset machines. His free time was spent drinking in bars with his friends and playing in punk-rock and psychedelic bands.
He began making collages from paper, bones, and parts of print machines, and soon after started painting. During this time he had several exhibitions in cities across Slovakia. In 1997 he decided to finish his work in the print shop and began focusing on painting and traveling around Europe.
In 1999 Stanislav had the opportunity to visit the USA. After traveling across USA he settled in Austin, Texas and spent several years there. After meeting established Austin painter Tom Besson Stanislav was introduced to new technics of painting, and to the Alternate Current community, which gave him the chance to meet other
painters.
Stanislav's painting flourished, and he had many successful exhibitions in Austin.
Stanislav recently moved to Chicago to further challenge his perspective, and is currently painting and planning new exhibitions both in the USA and Europe.
