Smack
Painting
Year: 2025
Edition: Unique
Technique: Oil and bedsheet on canvas
Framed: No
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Karl Bielik is a contemporary British artist known for his abstract paintings characterized by dynamic brushwork, vibrant colours, and layered compositions.
Born in London, Bielik studied fine arts at Middlesex University. He has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally, with his works featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including The RA Summer Show, The John Moores Painting Prize, and The London Open. He is a Contemporary British Painting member and the Founder and Director of Terrace Gallery in London, an artist-run gallery.
Bielik's artistic practice is deeply rooted in abstraction. Drawings, diagrams or photographs may inform the work in its formative stages, but essentially his work emerges from the physical process of painting. His paintings often evoke a sense of energy and movement, with gestural marks and bold contrasts creating a visually engaging experience for the viewer.
Throughout his career, Bielik has constantly pushed the boundaries of his practice, working exclusively with oil. He works on thirty or so paintings at a time that can vary in scale from intimate studies to large, immersive canvases, inviting viewers to explore the depths of his compositions.
In addition to his studio practice, Bielik is also actively involved in the art community, participating in artist residencies, workshops, and public talks. He is known for his engaging and insightful commentary on contemporary art, and his work is held in private and public collections worldwide.
Overall, Karl Bielik's art reflects a passionate exploration of abstraction and colour, capturing the essence of emotion and expression through his dynamic and visually compelling compositions.
Karl Bielik, born in 1967 in Bradford, UK, is a London-based contemporary abstract painter known for his visceral, process-driven oil paintings. His work demonstrates a masterful balance between spontaneity and control, creating deeply layered compositions that reveal the history of their making. As the Founder and Director of Terrace Gallery in London, and an active member of the Contemporary British Painting group, he plays a significant role in the contemporary art scene while maintaining his practice as a working artist.
Education
Initially trained as an electrician, Bielik later pursued formal art education through graphic design studies. He completed an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Graphic Design at Halifax College (1989-91), followed by a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Graphic Design at Stockport College (1991-93). This foundation in graphic design, combined with his practical background, would later influence his distinctive approach to abstract painting, though his development as a painter was largely self-taught.
Inspiration
Bielik draws inspiration from the act of painting itself—the push-and-pull between control and surrender. His work channels the energy of abstract expressionism but with a contemporary, almost punk sensibility, where intuition trumps premeditation. Music, literature, and the urban landscape seep into his process, though his paintings resist literal translation. Instead, they evoke emotional landscapes: fleeting, visceral, and open-ended. The studio becomes a stage for improvisation, where each mark responds to the last, building a dialogue that is both personal and universal.
"Success is a dubious word – I rarely discard works, I just keep on painting, wiping out, painting over, until something works… it may take months/years/minutes but something always turns up to make the painting come to life." - Karl Bielik (Jackson's Art Interview, 2018)
Technique
Bielik works simultaneously on dozens of paintings of varying scales, from intimate to large formats. His process involves multiple approaches: painting, wiping out, painting over, turning canvases, printing, blotting, masking, pouring paint, scraping, and scratching. The works are characterized by loose oily wounds and thick emulsions offset by light glazes and dribbles. Working in batches, irregular canvases cover the walls and floors of his studio, where he moves from one painting to another, playfully experimenting with mark-making.
Exhibitions
Bielik maintains an active international exhibition schedule that demonstrates his growing presence in the contemporary art world. His work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions across Europe and the United States. His exhibition history shows a steady progression from regional to international venues, reflecting the increasing recognition of his work among collectors and institutions.
Awards and Recognition
Bielik has received significant recognition through selection for several prestigious juried exhibitions, including The John Moores Painting Prize, The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, The BEEP Painting Prize, and The Marmite Prize. He is also a member of Contemporary British Painting, an artist-led organization established to explore and promote current trends in British painting through exhibitions, talks, and publications. This membership places him alongside significant British painters actively shaping the contemporary painting discourse in the UK.
Beyond his painting practice, he also writes and performs in the band Lark, signed to Standard Lamp Records, demonstrating his multidisciplinary creative approach.
Representation
Bielik’s work has been exhibited in galleries and institutions across Europe, the UK, and the US. As the founder of London’s Terrace Gallery, he maintains a strong independent practice while fostering connections within the contemporary painting community.
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