During his tenure at the CCA Jerzy was also a public and at times a political force, often treated by friends, colleagues and competitors as a moral authority on the development and state of arts and culture in post-communist Ukraine.

Mr Onuch began to take part in solo and group shows in 1976 and, in 1980, he became director and curator of a gallery affiliated with the Academy (Pracownia Dziekanka w Warszawie)[4] and devoted to innovative and experimental programs.

The Gallery Dziekanka, which he help run with his friends Janusz Bałdyga and Łukasz Szajna was highly progressive and naturally politically charged as it was born during the rise of the pro-democratic Solidarity movement.

Since 1991, when he was asked to be a juror at the first post Soviet contemporary art exhibit held in Lviv, Ukraine, he has sought out significant Ukrainian artists.

During his tenure the Center presented many Ukrainian and International artists including: Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys, Nam June Paik, Ilya Kabakov, Joseph Kosuth, Tony Ousler, Leon Tarasewicz, Arsen Savadov, Taras Polataiko, Boris Mikhailov, Serhiy Bratkov, Illya Chichkan, Andrij Sahaidakovskyi, Olexandr Roidburd, Masoch Fund, Oleg Kulik and others.

[6] Most recently, Jerzy Onuch curated Polish artist Miroslaw Maszlanko in Kyiv, Taras Polataiko, as the Ukrainian presentation at XXV São Paulo Bienal[7][8] in Brazil, the Masoch Fund at The Lux Gallery in London, England, and Viktor Marushchenko, as the Ukrainian Presentation at XXIV São Paulo Bienal.