Artwork in the room
Dalius Regelskis, an accomplished artist and architect, was born and raised in Vilnius, Lithuania. Over the course of more than twenty years, he has devoted his career to designing private interiors, traveling, and depicting urban architecture in his artworks. Alongside his creative endeavors, Dalius holds a professorship at the Vilnius Academy of Arts, where he imparts his knowledge and enthusiasm to students.
As a young man, Dalius was captivated by the hidden corners of Vilnius Old Town. In those days, with courtyard gates still open, he would explore every courtyard and uncover secret passages, often choosing these shortcuts over the main streets. His artistic journey began at the Vilnius Art School, where he studied graphic arts under the supervision of the celebrated Lithuanian graphic artist Petras Repšys. He later pursued further studies at the Vilnius Academy of Arts, specializing in architecture.
Each summer, Dalius travels to Crete with his wife, drawing inspiration from the island’s extraordinary architecture, rich historical legacy, and the lively character of local culture. The customs and people of Crete have left their mark on his work, with some pieces accompanied by mantinades—traditional Cretan poems—specially composed for his drawings by a local Greek from a nearby village.
New York City serves as another major source of inspiration for Dalius, offering him fresh experiences and creative insights. In his representations of New York, he delves into the city’s architectural contrasts, unified by the recurring image of the ONE WAY road sign. According to the artist, this sign goes beyond its functional meaning and instead serves as a personal symbol, representing the pursuit of an individual life path—a theme highlighted by his unique black-and-white graphic technique.
About this artwork+
The painting portrays a bustling urban scene that captures the essence of New York City, specifically focusing on its downtown area. In the foreground, dominating the composition, there is a tangle of street signs pointing in different directions; one reads "Pearl," another "Coenties Slip," and several bear the words "One Way." These metal signs, attached to a slender, intricately detailed street lamp, imply the complexity and often confusing journey through city streets. Above these street-level details hovers a traffic light, realistically depicted with a small red heart symbol on its side, adding a touch of unexpected whimsy and perhaps love for the city it directs. The scene stretches upward vertically, mimicking the towering presence of New York's skyscrapers, drawn with meticulous, linear precision. The buildings are densely packed, each window a distinct square, contributing to the texture of an almost palpable urban fabric. On the right, the buildings introduce some architectural variety, showing different heights and windows' arrangements, and are slightly softer in their portrayal, suggesting distance or perhaps a past fading into the shadow of the freshly inked structures. A stain, brown and spreading like watercolor, washes over part of the image, bleeding through the city's rigid geometry and lending an impression of age or decay. This interplay of clear, sharp lines and the organic spread of the stain creates a dynamic visual tension, encapsulating the perpetual growth and inevitable erosion inherent to a living, breathing metropolis. The artwork conveys a deep connection to New York, merging both its iconic structural elements and the unpredictable life that pulses through its streets.
