Waldemar Świerzy graduated in 1952 from the Cracow Academy of Fine Arts/Graphic Arts, after also studying in Katowice. He then moved to Warsaw, where he first worked for the WAG publishing house and CPW film distributors. He then became a freelance graphic and poster designer. Świerzy created more than 1,000 posters. The human head features in his posters in seemingly endless variations. Swierzy also illustrated books and designed a number of exhibitions in Warsaw and elsewhere for the Polish Chamber of Commerce.

Since 1965 Świerzy has been a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan and since 1994 a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. His work is represented in several leading and specialized museums worldwide. In 1978 he was appointed president of the Warsaw Poster Biennale.

The list of his international awards, Grand Prix, gold and silver medals, solo and group exhibitions is one of the longest and most impressive in the profession. Since 1959 his work has been shown at a huge number of biennials, triennials, galleries and museums, and published in many leading design annuals, magazines and books.