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 "Evening is Coming" by Rytas Jurgelis features bold, expressive strokes of color layered thickly on the canvas that imparts a tactile sense of movement and depth. At the top, crimson and purple hues bleed into each other, suggesting a dimming sky or the vibrant illumination of the setting sun. Below these, softer tones of peach, beige, and pale yellow offer a gentle contrast, mimicking perhaps the fleeting light across a landscape's expanse. The bottom region of the work is dominated by dark browns mingled with streaks of navies and indigos, interspersed with surprising dashes of bright blue, evoking the earthly terrain or foreboding shadows lengthening with the coming night. The overall effect is one of dynamic abstraction, inviting the viewer to experience the visceral emotions and colors of an evening slipping into twilight.
