Wojciech Pietranik was born in 1950 in the city of Gdansk, Poland. He began studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk at the age of 20. He graduated in 1975 with an honors diploma.
Wojciech moved to Australia in 1985 where he undertook a variety of jobs as well as teaching sculpture. During 1989, he took the position of Designer and Engraver at the Royal Australian Mint. In 1992, his talent was recognized by a Churchill Fellowship Award which enabled him to study at the School of Medallic Art in Rome.
Wojciech has designed many Royal Australian Mint products including 1999 $1 The Last Anzacs Fine Silver and mintmarks coins, 1999 $1 Silver Kangaroo Coin, 1998 Royal Flying Doctor Service coins and many medals.
In 1998 Wojciech was invited by the Sydney Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games to submit a design for the Victory Medals. Up against 19 other artists and designers, Wojciech Pietranik entered a design that combined modern and traditional elements. Announced as the winning designer on 4 October 1999 by the IOC in Athens, his design incorporates the wattle trees of Australia, the Sydney Opera House and a reflection of the waters that surround it.
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