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 depicts a striking and somewhat abstract figure positioned against a dark, moody background with greenish-hued clouds. This central figure has an elongated head with a prominent, circular red swirl on the cheek, resembling a nautilus or perhaps an abstract ear. The eyes appear closed or covered, adding an introspective or somber mood to the character. The body of the figure is fragmented and consists of various textured elements and colors, implying a form of collage or assembly with different materials. The color palette used throughout the figure includes shades of brown, purple, and red, which contrast heavily against the dark surroundings. Notable too are what appear to be three green ellipses in the upper portion of the canvas, perhaps suggestive of an otherworldly presence or simply abstract elements contributing to the dream-like or melancholic atmosphere of the work. Emanating almost a corporeal decomposition or a mechanical reassembly, the art piece engages themes of existential waiting and transformation underpinned by its dark and rich textural composition.
