Janusz Strzałkowski, known by his artistic name Janus, is a painter who has been living and working in Austria for many years.

Born in Warsaw, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw from 1974 to 1979. In 1981, he emigrated to Austria, and since 1983 he has been a member of the Association of Austrian Visual Artists. In 1986, he was granted Austrian citizenship.

In 1991, he was awarded the Order of Merit for Polish Culture and Art, and in 2023 he received the Medal of Merit from the Municipality of Grafenwörth.

Since 1984, he has run an artist's gallery together with his wife in the picturesque Danube town of Dürnstein.

Janus' work is highly original and instantly recognizable. His paintings combine elements of pure and figurative abstraction, expression, and innovative visual effects. A hallmark of his style is the dynamic, flowing line that evokes motion, energy, and emotional intensity.

A unique feature of his work is the use of 23-carat gold leaf, which lends the paintings a radiant glow and elegance. Some of his works also include fluorescent and phosphorescent pigments, which means they change appearance depending on the light — natural daylight, UV, or darkness — offering a multi-sensory, ever-changing experience.

Janus's color palette is bold, emotional, and rich in contrasts. He often works with deep tones to enhance the expressive quality of his pieces. His style can be described as a fusion of abstract expressionism and contemporary techniques, which give his artworks both structure and depth.

Janus often explores themes of movement, transience, and spiritual expression. His art is not only visually compelling but also intellectually and emotionally engaging, inviting reflection and personal interpretation.

Thanks to his originality and high artistic quality, Janus has earned recognition in the Austrian and international art scenes. His works are part of both private and public collections, and he has participated in numerous prestigious exhibitions and art fairs.

Artistic performance is also an integral part of Janus's work. His most notable projects include:

• "Closed Circle" – life-size papier-mâché figures rise from the earth, fly toward a window, and fall from a second window as shredded newspapers, returning to the ground. A symbolic cycle of transformation.

• "Phantom of Freedom" – life-sized paper figures trapped in a narrow space float in the air, as if searching for an escape. The only way out is a small, barred window — a powerful image of longing and entrapment, reminiscent of birds caught in a snare.

• "A Brief History of the 20th Century" – countless hands in expressive gestures appear on the wall of a Baroque monastery, as if crying out, accusing, and retelling the century’s tragedies.

• "United Europe" – hundreds of shirts painted with national flags are suspended in open space. Tossed by the wind, they tell dramatic stories of nations that strive for unity but remain divided. Traces of historical suffering flow like blood across the flags.

• "Nova" – born in 1995. A finished painting becomes a living document as participants are allowed to leave their marks – signatures or drawings – forming an additional graphical layer.
  The desire to leave a mark has accompanied humanity since the dawn of time – evident in the cave drawings of Lascaux or carvings on benches, trees, rocks. A "Nova" was also created in collaboration with Roman Polanski.

• The figure of Janus became the inspiration for a feature film titled "Danube in sheet music". It tells the story of the artist Janusz Strzalkowski wandering the Danube valley of Wachau, living in a tent and painting the surroundings.
  He encounters a girl – the granddaughter of an antiques dealer – who steals all of his works and organizes an exhibition to gain him fame, helped by her grandfather. The film also aimed to showcase the beauty of the region.

  Three documentaries have also been made:

• One by German TV station ZDF, showing the performance "A Brief History of the 20th Century".

• A second titled "From Polish Roots", about the lives of emigrant artists, made by Polish Television.

• A third, a detailed depiction of the life and work of Janus and Danuta, produced by Wrocław Television.

• Polish poet Jacek Cygan wrote a stage play illustrating the life of the artist couple, titled "Dinner with Gustav Klimt", performed in theatres in Kraków and Vienna.

  In summary, Janus is a versatile artist whose work stands out for its technical skill, experimental approach to materials, and remarkable ability to create images that change depending on light and environment.