He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan in 1984, and earned a degree in painting under Norbert Skupniewicz.
He worked as chief designer at the Grand Theatre in Lodz from 1999 to 2000.
[2] In 1998 he was awarded the prestigious Medal Młodej Sztuki [pl].
[3] He designed more than 150 theater, ballet, opera, television, and film sets in Poland and abroad, including France, Germany, Argentina, Israel, and Egypt.
Ryszard Kaja was regarded as one of Poland's best selling and prolific contemporary poster designers.