Rytas Jurgelis, a prominent Lithuanian artist, has been a member of the Union of Lithuanian Artists since 1995. Over the course of his career, he has held almost thirty solo exhibitions, presenting his work throughout Lithuania and abroad. His ongoing engagement with the arts scene underscores both his substantial contribution and the recognition he has earned within the artistic community.
Jurgelis’s paintings stand out for their distinct treatment of color and texture and for his steadfast admiration of geometric shapes, particularly the square. This combination produces an impressive range of artwork, yet there remains a gentle lyricism unmistakable in his style. By repeatedly incorporating squares, he brings both structure and formal clarity to his compositions.
Instead of emphasizing color contrasts, Jurgelis seeks harmony and the combined effect of hues. In his art, color becomes a vehicle for conveying emotional states, enriched by the tangible specifics of oil paint. He highlights the material nature of his medium through various finishes—matte or glossy—as well as through texture, sgraffito, and pronounced relief. Through a careful process of adding layer upon layer, he achieves surfaces that distinctly display their method of creation, appealing to both the eye and the touch.
These densely layered, textured surfaces do more than create unique visual and emotional environments—they also suggest connections to other senses, like taste or scent. Each square field in his paintings serves as a platform for emotional interplay or unspoken stories, encouraging viewers to interpret them through the lens of their own experience. Jurgelis subtly directs the viewer’s response with gentle hints, while deliberately maintaining ample room for personal interpretation and emotional engagement.
About this artwork+
The painting is an abstract composition predominantly featuring textural contrasts and earthy hues. A pale pink swath occupies the top half, thickly layered with an impasto technique that reveals expressive, tactile qualities. This area is uneven, with ragged edges and sporadic peaks, suggesting a dynamic and somewhat turbulent surface. Below, the painting shifts dramatically into darker tones. A large, central rectangle houses shades of cream and beige, bordered by smeared black and burnt umber streaks that bleed into the surrounding areas. The dark colors are dense and seem to absorb light, creating a stark contrast against the softer, lighter upper half. The application of paint here is also thick and heavily textured, giving the piece a three-dimensional quality. This contrast, between the gentle, subdued lightness and the deep, enveloping darkness, speaks to a duality that might reflect the concept of "Bright Morning"—perhaps indicating the emergence of light from darkness, or the serene dawn breaking upon a night's shadow. The raw and spontaneous use of materials adds an organic and primal feel to the work, enhancing its emotional depth.
