Rafal Piesliak
Conceptual sculptor creating spatial installations and objects. The work of Piesliak can be divided into periods, during which the artist dedicates all of his creative energy to the development of a specific theme. As a result of these theme-based cycles, the artworks created by the sculptor become a kind of each other’s continuation and are closely interconnected by conceptual links. One of the most important themes of the work of Piesliak, which has been an object of his extensive exploration, is the connection of a person’s mental and emotional state with the surrounding environment. In his installations, the artist reflects on the topic by changing and reshaping the exhibition space through the use of various techniques and engaging the viewers as well as their experiences in the creative experiment. Everyday sources of light used by the sculptor as tools to transform the atmosphere symbolize facelessness and alienation of social medium. According to Piesliak, the objects used in his work have no individual meaning, while as a whole they serve as an instrument to shape the new experience of the observer. In his latest series themes of synthesis, memory and communication emerge. By reviving old porcelain for a new life and giving them a sculptural body, the artist analysis and transforms historical artifacts as well as the meanings of loss and rebirth.
Born in 1983, Vilnius, Lithuania
Lives and works in Vilnius, Lithuania
Education
2002 – 2008 Vilnius Academy of Arts, Bachelor’s degree in sculpture
Solo Exhibitions
2022 Conversion, Tauragė castle, Tauragė, Lithuania
2022 Conversion, Portfolio gallery, Biržai, Lithuania
2022 Tribunes, Šiauliai art gallery, Šiauliai, Lithuania
2021 Insight, Galeria Le Guern, Warsaw, Poland
2021 Communications, Teatr Druga Strefa, Warsaw, Poland
2021 Insight, (Av17) gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania
2016 Barricade, (Av17) gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania
2015 The Lath, VDU Arts gallery 101, Kaunas, Lithuania
2015 ArtVilnius’15, installation The Lath, Vilnius, Lithuania
2014 State of light + Pearls, (together with N. Erminas), gallery Dimora Artica, Milan, Italy
2014 ArtVilnius’ 14, (AV17) gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania
2013 A man from the shadow, Znad Willi, Vilnius, Lithuania
2012 A Man Who Has Never Seen a Horizon, (AV17) Gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania
2011 Contemporary art – I can also do that, Nabaklab, Riga, Latvia
2009 Insomnia, ARTCORE, Vilnius, Lithuania
Group Exhibitions
2022 Lutum magnum, Museum of Applied Arts and Design, Vilnius, Lithuania
2022 ArtVilnius’20, Vilnius, Lietuva
2022 POSITIONS Art Fair, Berlin, Germany
2021 Waiting, Kudros park, Vilnius, Lithuania
2021 POP UP show Pylimo st., Vilnius, Lithuania
2021 Unpredictable Futures, 1st international art triennial, Molėtai, Lithuania
2020 ArtVilnius’20, Vilnius, Lithuania
2020 POSITIONS Art Fair, Berlin, Germany
2020 The Break, Chaimas Frenkelis villa, Šiauliai, Lithuania
2020 Now. Elsewhere, Vilkaviškis-Alytus-Prienai, Lithuania
2019 Visits, Valakupiai Rehabilitation Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania
2019 Zemlika art festival, Durbe, Latvia
2019 ArtVilnius’19, Vilnius, Lithuania
2019 Infusion, Kelmė-Telšiai-Mažeikiai, Lithuania
2018 Zemlika art festival, Durbe, Latvia
2018 ArtVerona, Verona, Italy
2018 To The West, Šilutė-Šilalė-Gelgaudiškis, Lithuania
2016 417 km/art, Rokiškis-Ignalina-Kupiškis, Lithuania
2016 Exchange gallery Rockelmann& , Berlin, Germany
2016 Behind the Scenes, (AV17) gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania
2015 7 objects, Visaginas – Švenčionėliai – Šalčininkai, Lithuania
2015 Caution! Mind the Object, Post gallery , Kaunas, Lithuania
2015 7 Objects, Visaginas-Švenčionėliai-Šalčininkai, Lithuania
2014 the 3rd Lithuanian contemporary art quadrianal Art on a Flagpole, Vilnius, Lithuania
2014 Copper, in the House of Copper, Vroclav, Poland
2014 Culture Night’14, Vilnius, Lithuania
2013 ArtVilnius‘13 Art Fair, Vilnius, Lithuania
2013 Culture Night’13, Vilnius, Lithuania
2013 Copper, in the House of Copper, Vroclav, Poland
2011 Two D, Fluxus ministry, Vilnius, Lithuania
2011 Season, Kairė-Dešinė, Vilnius, Lithuania
2011 Du D, Ministry of Fluxus, Vilnius, Lithuania
2010 International symposium of sculpture, Sumy, Ukraine
2010 Phantasmagoria, gallery Akademija, Vilnius, Lithuania
2009 Pharmacy, Ministry of Fluxus, Vilnius, Lithuania
2009 Art biennale, Sektor Sztuki, Katowice, Poland
2009 International art championship Artothlon, Vilnius, Lithuania
2009 20 artists, Krzyzowa, Poland
Stage design for theater
2013 Set design for Lilies L. H. Morstin
2012 Set design Dominykas the Horse in Love Vytautas V. Landsbergis
2012 Love Traps Inka Dovlaš
2010 Mr. Advisor’s Advisers M. Balucki
2009 Separation, by poems of J. Slovackis
2008 J. Odrovonž ,The Tale about Magical Flowers and Terrible Monster
Works in public spaces
2021 Garden, bank of Neris river, Vilnius, Lithuania
2012 Literatu str. project
2010 Central park, Sumy, Ukraine
2007 art in space, space in art, Vilnius Academy of Art, Vilnius, Lithuania
2007 Object, Krzyzowa, Poland
2005 Object, Krzyzowa, Poland
2004 Object, Krzyzowa, Poland
2003 Circle, Fairy park, Vilnius, Lithuania
Awards
2020 The best ArtVilnius’20 installation award for artwork Garden
2010 The National award of Poland Contributed to Polish Culture