Jerzy Nowakowski was born in Przemyśl on 1 January 1947. He completed his education at the Lyceum of Fine Arts in Jarosław in 1965. In 1965-1971 he studied at the Faculty of Sculpture of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków under Professors Marian Konieczny and Jacek Puget. He received his diploma with honours in the atelier of Docent Wanda Ślendzińska in 1971.
   In November 1971 he took the post of an assistant to Professor Stefan Borzęcki in the Sculpture Atelier at the Faculty of Sculpture of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. In 1977-1985 she ran workshops in metal sculpture and medallic art; since 1985 she has been the head of a medallic art workshop for students of the 1st year of the Faculty of Sculpture. Currently Nowakowski is responsible for workshops in sculpture for students preparing their diplomas. In 1994 he was conferred the title of a professor.
   In 1981-1984 and 1987-1990 he was a deputy dean of the Faculty of Sculpture. In 1990-1996 he was Dean of that Faculty.
   Simultaneously, since his graduation he has practiced sculpture and medallic art. He also paints. His works were displayed at various individual and group exhibitions in Poland and abroad. Nowakowski has received many awards and honourable mentions at numerous art exhibitions. His works can be seen in museums, art galleries and private collections in Poland and abroad including the Museum of Medallic Art in Wrocław, the Museum in Chorzów, the Museum in Tarnów, the National Museum in Kraków, the British Museum in London, Dante Museum in Ravenna, Pushkin Museum in Moscow, the City of Kraków Historical Museum, the Museum of Ethnography and History in Chojnice, the Sports and Tourism Museum in Warsaw, Polish Army Museum in New York, the Society of Friends of the Fine Arts in Kraków, the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Ornosk, the collection of the Gallery of the Sculptors’ Association in Warsaw, the “OLYMPOS” World Intellectual Centre in Greece, the Collection of the Civic Committee for the restoration of Kraków Monuments, the Municipal Gallery in Bergkamen, the Municipal gallery in Söllesborg, Sweden and the Gallery of the Faculty of Sculpture of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków.
   Since 1976, the Museum of Medallic Art in Wrocław systematically acquired Jerzy Nowakowski’s medals, creating a collection devoted exclusively to his works. Since 1991 selected plaques and medals have been displayed at a permanent exhibition entitled “Contemporary Polish Medal-Artists”.
   Since 1981 he has participated in International Plein-airs in Mirabel, southern France, organised by the Artist’s Association Neue Darsmtadt Sezession and Künstlerhaus Ziegelhütte E.V. from Darmstadt, Germany.
   In 2002 he was a co-organiser of an international exhibition ”20 years of plein-airs in Mirabel” in the exhibition salon of the Palace of Art of the Society of Friends of Fine Arts in Kraków.
   He is a member of the Society of Friends of the Fine Arts in Kraków, acting as of the Secretary of the Society’s new Board; he is a member of the ”POLART” Artists’ Group in Kraków, the Association of Polish Artists and Designers and the Society of Friends of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków.
   In 1985 he was a laureate of the City of Kraków award. In 2004 he received the ”Gold Laurel” for mastery in sculpture art for the year 2003, awarded by the Foundation for Polish Culture.