All My Thirties

About

Elza Kayal is pleased to announce the solo exhibition of

Ambrus Gero. This marks Gero's first solo endeavor at the gallery, although he is no stranger to its curatorial program. He previously participated in Beyond Species, a group show curated by the gallery's founder and her FIT troupe in 2019.

The artist's bold use of high-contrast color combinations reflects mass media and consumer culture, amplifying their striking nature to underscore these themes. He delves into themes of sexual desires, undertones of intimacy, boredom, and the subtle games people play while wounding one another in a fragile hope of security. Gero's characters are vulnerable, stripped down to their instincts, embodying his persistent aspiration for human unity — a vision that contrasts sharply with the fractured reality he encounters.

Recently, Gero has become captivated by the representation of interiors. Circular light casts on walls and the fall of curtains, such as in Pink Room (2024), are recurring motifs. Bedrooms often serve as focal points in his paintings, portrayed as altarpieces of instinct. His overheated images are ambiguous and sometimes humorous, evoking curiosity about the creatures of desire that inhabit them. A transformation takes place in the environment of this series of paintings. Gradually, the rooms and surroundings become richer; the colors are more saturated in the following sequence. The characters swim or float in the reflector light of the intimate enclave of a bedroom. Contrasting colors like ultramarine blue, inspired by traditional Japanese woodblock prints, are paired with hues of orange and yellow in Couple no. 12. - PEACH, 2024.

Beyond his painting practice, Gero works in various mediums. He creates immersive spaces to inspire communities and creates fictional narratives to discuss new social norms. He fabricates carpets and tables, using various materials and digitally produced woven carpets. He aims to make "total art", where kinetic sculptures are placed at the center while vision, sound, movement, and interaction of the participants create a multi-sensory ambiance, tapping into the polar opposite of alienation. Gero offers rituals to participants, such as the Cacao Ceremony, which is based on a 5,000-year-old social formula to enhance unity in a playful way.

Ambrus Gero has exhibited in Hungary, Germany, Slovenia, Denmark, and the United States. His works have been acquired by Erste Bank and The Data Foundation, a private collection focusing on emerging Hungarian artists. Gero has received the Jackson’s Open Painting Prize, London (2018), and a grant to participate in the Wassaic Project Summer Residency (2023).

The gallery is open from Wednesday - Saturday, 1 - 5 pm, the exhibition can be viewed from January 11 through February 8, 2025.