A horse, a dog and cats adorn the façade of one of the clinics at the University of Life Sciences in Wrocław. The new mural by Otecki – that is, Wojciech Kołacz – continues a series of illustrated decorations on the veterinary buildings. The simple lines and geometric silhouettes of the animals blend well with the elegance of the campus’s post-war architecture.
The clinic’s ‘patients’ on the façade
The new mural has been created on the building of the Department of Internal Medicine with the Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats at 47 Grunwaldzki Square. This is the second mural in the series decorating the faculty’s clinics, and Otecki’s fifth work on UPWr buildings. The theme stems directly from the building’s purpose – the painted animals represent the patients treated within its walls. The centrepiece of the composition is a horse with a long neck and slender legs. To its left sits a dog, and to its right two large cats. Above them, another, smaller cat is resting. The whole piece resembles an enlarged pen-and-ink drawing.
Otecki’s mural: an owl, a woodpecker and a tortoise
The first piece in this series was unveiled on 31 March 2026 at the headquarters of the Department of Epizootiology with the Clinic for Birds and Exotic Animals at 45 Grunwaldzki Square. It was created to mark the 80th anniversary of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. A small plaque beneath the drawing commemorates this anniversary. Here, the main subject is the barn owl. It is accompanied by other birds, including a great spotted woodpecker, as well as a European pond turtle and a snail with a spiral shell. This mural is denser and richer in fine details, yet retains the same understated colour scheme and sketchy style.
A drawing in keeping with modernism
Both works are executed in black line on a light background. Their lightness harmonises well with the flat roofs, protruding façades and slender columns supporting the corners of the buildings. Animal motifs also help to identify the specialisms of the individual clinics. The reference to post-war modernism was a deliberate decision on Otecki’s part. The artist eschewed a rich colour palette in favour of bold outlines and simplified silhouettes. Both projects were carried out under the technical and conservation supervision of an inspector from the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments in Wrocław.
Otecki supported the creation of the mural
The new decoration was made possible thanks to the support of Dr Maciej Nowak, CEO of Huvepharma Polska, a graduate of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and vice-chairman of the UPWr Convention. The university has already announced its next mural. It is set to adorn the building of the Department of Reproduction and the Farm Animal Clinic, continuing the series dedicated to animal patients.
This is yet another mural by Otecki for the University of Life Sciences in Wrocław
Wojciech Kołacz is a graphic designer, illustrator and muralist based in Wrocław. In 2009, he graduated from the local Academy of Fine Arts, where he currently teaches. He completed his degree projects under the supervision of Prof. Przemysław Tyszkiewicz and Prof. Eugeniusz Get-Stankiewicz. He has been collaborating with the University of Life Sciences for several years. In 2021, he created a mural with the slogan ‘We’ve got the green idea’, commemorating the university’s 70th anniversary. At the time, 20 hives for mason bees were incorporated into the painted wall. The project received a special Best Genius award in the Genius Universitatis competition in 2022.
Source:Wrocław City Council
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