Tycjan Knut creates subtle abstractions. Using delicate tonal differences and neutral colours, his works have an effect that verges on optical illusion. His compositions require time and thought. What meets the eye at a glance may not be all it seems after a closer inspection. Knut’s paintings unfold slowly, with multiple anchor points drawing the viewer’s eye across the painting and creating a sense of balance. By building up overlapping layers of colour in a way that resembles the organic world, he creates images that trick the eye into perceiving new depth in already highly structural objects. Without using sketches or plans, Knut’s practice is reactive. The artist carefully follows the formation of the composition, examining the function of each element in relation to the painting as a whole throughout.
‘In painting I try to completely rely on intuition, because it in its essence seems to me to be the purest. To cultivate this feature in my works, I give up the preparations.’
Knut’s work takes inspiration from the geometric abstract art of the twentieth century with a deep academic interest in unknown abstract ‘masters’. His work resonates with the echo of this tradition but extends beyond the trend, his works freed from the constraints of formula.
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Untitled 67acrylic on canvas100cm x 80cm (39" x 31")
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Untitled 68acrylic on canvas180cm x 150cm (71" x 59")
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Untitled 85, 2022acrylic on canvas150cm x 120cm (59" x 47")
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light matters 30 ,acrylic on canvas80cm x 60cm (31" x 24")
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Untitled 84, 2022acrylic on canvas150cm x 120cm (59" x 47")
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light matters 31,acrylic on canvas150cm x 120cm (59" x 47")
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Untitled 83, 2022acrylic on canvas180cm x 160cm (71" x 63")
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light matters 32 ,acrylic on canvas150cm x 120cm (59" x 47")
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Untitled 82, 2022acrylic on canvas150cm x 120cm (59" x 47")
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light matters 33 ,acrylic on canvas120cm x 100cm (47" x 39")
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Untitled 81, 2022acrylic on canvas150cm x 120cm (59" x 47")
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light matters 34 ,acrylic on canvas80cm x 60cm (31" x 24")
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Through The Walls
Group Exhibition 17 Jan - 4 Mar 2023 London -
Tycjan Knut
Light Matters 9 - 27 Nov 2021 LondonCadogan Contemporary is pleased to announce an exhibition of new works by the artist Tycjan Knut. Knut creates subtle abstractions, using delicate tonal differences and neutral colours to create an...Read more -
Invisible Subjects
Kim Bartelt, Laurence Leenaert and Tycjan Knut 2 - 20 Mar 2020 LondonCadogan Contemporary is delighted to present Invisible Subjects, a group exhibition that brings together new work by Kim Bartelt, Tycjan Knut and LRNCE. The exhibition explores the idea of paintings...Read more
Tycjan Knut was born in 1985 in Warsaw and now lives and works in London. Knut received his PhD in Fine Art and Painting from the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts in 2011. His work has been exhibited across Europe and is held in private collections across the world. Cadogan has represented Tycjan Knut since 2019.
Education
Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts
Jan Kochanowski University Institute of Fine Arts in Kielce
Selected solo Exhibitons
2021 | 'Light Matters', Cadogan Gallery, London | |
2016 | 'Reticence', KOHANA Gallery, Warsaw, Poland | |
'More-Less', Contemporary Art Centre Gallery El, Elblag, Poland | ||
2014 | 'Old School', Project Rooms at Contemporary Art Centre CSW, Warsaw | |
2013 | 'Emotional Formal Solutions of Minimal Attraction', WUZETM factory, Warsaw | |
2011 | 'Tycjan Knut - Paintings', Soho Factory, Warsaw, Poland |
selected group exhibitions
2020 | 'Invisible Subjects', Cadogan Gallery, London | |
2019 | '3 Anni', Numeroventi, Florence, Italy | |
2018 | 'In the Neighbourhood', House of Grey, London | |
'Emerging Hermit', The Workshop, London | ||
2015 | 'Pure Formality', Contemporary Art Centre Labyrinth Gallery, Lublin, Poland |
Collections
PKO Bank
Contemporary Art Centre El
Private Collections in UK, USA, Switzerland, Dubai, Monaco, China, Poland, Italy, Japan, France, Germany, Mexico.
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CADOGAN GALLERY | WORLD ARCHITECTURE NEWS | MENTION
Séan Thurgood, World Architecture News, August 29, 2022 -
TYCJAN KNUT | PORTRAITS BY ATELIER ELLIS
Portraits by Atelier Ellis -
INVISIBLE SUBJECTS | WALL STREET INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE
Wall Street International Magazine , January 27, 2021 -
TYCJAN KNUT | ARCHITECUTURAL DIGEST | FEATURE
Tom Morris, Architectural Digest , April 8, 2020 -
INVISIBLE SUBJECTS | ANNIVERSARY MAGAZINE
Anniversary Team, Anniversary Magazine , March 3, 2020 -
INVISIBLE SUBJECTS | FAD MAGAZINE
Mark Westall, FAD Magazine , February 24, 2020 -
TYCJAN KNUT | FALCHI INTERIORS BLOG | MENTION
Falchi Interiors Blog, June 12, 2019 -
TYCJAN KNUT | THE GUARDIAN
Nell Card, The Guardian , April 29, 2018