The first period of work is generally considered to contain expressionistic colour, with a strong style of "utopian realism" and surreal architecture.

His early photography was a precursor to his later paintings, often depicting peculiar wrinkles, desolate landscapes, and still-life faces on rough surfaces.

This is his best-known period, during which he created disturbing images, showing a gloomy, surrealistic environment with detailed scenes of death, decay, landscapes filled with skeletons, deformed figures, and deserts.

"[7] Despite the grim subjects, Beksiński claimed some of his works were misunderstood; in his opinion, they were rather optimistic or even humorous.

For the most part, Beksiński was adamant that even he did not know the meaning of his artworks and was uninterested in possible interpretations; in keeping with this notion, he refused to provide titles for any of his drawings or paintings.

[8] In the later part of the 1990s, he became interested in computers, the Internet, digital photography and photo manipulation, a medium that he focused on until his death.

[9] Beksiński's wife, Zofia, died in 1998; a year later, on Christmas Eve 1999, his son Tomasz committed suicide by drug overdose.

Robert Kupiec, the teenage son of his longtime caretaker, and his cousin were arrested shortly after the crime.

[10] Although Beksiński's art was often grim, he himself was known to be a pleasant person who took enjoyment from conversation and had a keen sense of humor.

On 18th May 2012 with the participation of Minister of Regional Development Elżbieta Bieńkowska and others took place ceremonial opening of the New Gallery of Zdzisław Beksiński [pl] in the rebuilt wing of the castle.