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+
In "Evening Still-life" by Rytas Jurgelis, the painting captivates with its vibrant, thick strokes of contrasting colors layered against a dark background. The image evokes the feeling of a still life primarily through abstract forms. A cascade of rich yellow, deep red, and subtle green dominates the central composition, suggesting a central vertical structure, possibly interpreted as a bottle or a tall vessel. Adjacent to these are white and slate gray dabs and streaks that might be seen as reflective surfaces or adjacent objects, contributing to the typical still life elements such as plates or cloth. Subtle hints of red and yellow at the base resemble fruits or additional objects on a table, enhancing the traditional still life narrative through a highly modern and expressive technique. The overall effect is one of dynamic motion and intriguing interaction of form and color, arousing a sense of mystery and depth in an otherwise ordinary setting.
