By Everard Read Gallery Johannesburg, is proud to present Continuum, a compelling new body of work by Polish-born, Cape Town-based artist Andrzej Urbanski.
In this exhibition, Urbanski extends his reputation for angular and vibrant abstract compositions, with a quiet shift towards gentleness that marks a significant evolution in this new series.
Becoming a father has given Urbanski a renewed perspective on masculinity. He delves into the complex dualities of masculine power – its capacity for both strength and tenderness. By introducing curved forms and muted colours to his recognised high-frequency elements, Urbanski creates a dialogue between the two contrasting forces. The interplay of opposites speaks to a visual language that is both dynamic and contemplative, allowing the viewer to feel how the softness balances the hard.
His steel sculptures begin as small-scale cardboard models or digital sketches. These works then evolve through processes of cutting, sequencing, and assembling, with each stage presenting unforeseen challenges that shape the final work. He continually tests and pushes the limits of what is possible in his sculptures too – adjusts things structurally and pushes structural limits.
His paintings are created in an equally meticulous manner. Canvases are constructed with curved or angular edges, while layered mixtures of oils, acrylics, spray paint, and drying solutions are carefully applied to produce textures ranging from glossy to matte, smooth to tactile. Each application is carefully mixed to achieve a precise visual effect. Also important is effort versus value in abstract art – he has a very methodical process, time-consuming, mastery.
Urbanski has built a practice defined by precision, integrity in process and intention, and a dedication to understanding and exploring the mediums he works with. Spray paint and acrylic are layered with meticulous care, creating seamless planes and crisp structures that appear almost digitally manufactured.
This practice — in which process remains central — continues to drive the work. Urbanski’s commitment to concealing gesture, flattening the picture plane, and refining shape and tone is unwavering. His abstractions maintain their characteristic tension between technical rigour and the illusion of automated creation.
The result: paintings that still hum with technological precision, yet pulse with presence and tenderness.
Exhibition Details
Venue: Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg
Dates: 13 November – 12 December 2025