Kolodziej earned a BA in economics from the University of Chicago and an MFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design. Interested in what people leave behind, Kolodziej spent his formative years working on archaeological digs and building theatre stage sets. Although one fragment might not tell a story, a collection of information begins to show patterns and meaning. He is a recipient of a Fulbright and a Pollock-Krasner Grant. Kolodziej has exhibited around the United States and abroad at such venues as the Cleveland Museum of Art, Rose Art Museum, Painting Center New York, Akron Art Museum, University of Leeds, and MOCA Cleveland. He is a professor at the Myers School of Art, University of Akron.