Paul Hartel

Paul Hartel is an accomplished artist with an extensive presence in prominent exhibitions across the United States and Europe. Educated at Fairleigh Dickinson University and Ithaca College, he holds advanced degrees in arts and has pursued specialized studies in modern and contemporary art at the Museum of Modern Art, NYC. His artistic achievements are further enriched by certifications in anatomy for artists and techniques such as dry point and monoprint. Hartel’s dedication to art has earned him international recognition, including the American Art Award, the World Art Award, and the Collector’s Vision International Art Award. 

Hartel’s body of work spans abstract, neo-expressionist, and art brut styles, executed in diverse mediums such as oil, acrylic, pastels, and charcoal. His practice focuses on the raw energy of uninhibited creativity, exploring themes of the “inner child” and social commentary through a spontaneous, unfiltered process. Over the years, his career has been marked by an impressive array of exhibitions at venues like the Florence Biennale, Art Basel, and MADS Art Gallery. Hartel’s works have not only been sought after by private collectors but have also found resonance within public and corporate collections. 

In pieces such as “August” and “Fashion Windows,” Hartel’s signature aesthetic is evident—dynamic compositions filled with vibrant, intersecting lines, bold color contrasts, and layers of expressive detail. These works evoke a dialogue between personal introspection and broader societal narratives. Echoing the improvisational energy of Jean-Michel Basquiat and the emotional depth of Cy Twombly, Hartel’s art bridges the gap between abstraction and raw figuration. The layered approach, combining text, imagery, and gestural strokes, serves as a visual diary, deeply rooted in art brut’s ethos of honesty and immediacy. What sets Paul Hartel apart is his ability to channel a visceral emotional intensity into his work while maintaining a sophisticated, layered narrative. His pieces not only provoke thought but also invite viewers into a space of emotional and intellectual engagement. Hartel’s contributions to contemporary art lie in his ability to merge spontaneity with profound reflection, creating a body of work that is both dynamic and deeply resonant.

Paul Hartel's "Cacophony": A Landmark of Modern Expressionism

In the ever-evolving tapestry of contemporary art, few works capture the zeitgeist with as much vibrancy and depth as Paul Hartel's mixed media masterpiece "Cacophony." Awarded the prestigious Future of Art Global Masterpiece Award, this piece is a brilliant testament to Hartel's genius, offering a compelling narrative on the chaos and harmony of modern life. Its accolade underscores the profound significance Hartel's work holds in the art world, heralding a new direction in artistic expression.

"Cacophony" is a visual symphony of color, texture, and form. Spanning a large canvas, Hartel employs a myriad of techniques and materials, blending traditional elements with innovative media to create a dynamic, multi-layered experience. This method is not merely a stylistic choice but a deliberate mechanism to engage viewers on multiple sensory levels, allowing them to experience the "noise" of the piece not just visually but emotionally and intellectually.

Hartel's genius lies in his ability to orchestrate this chaos into coherence. The artwork’s title itself, "Cacophony," suggests a dissonant mix of sounds and, by extension, visuals. Yet, there is an underlying harmony in the apparent disorder. Themes of connectivity and isolation, technology, and nature are interwoven, reflecting the complexities of contemporary society. The chaotic layout of symbols, figures, and abstract shapes parallels the way digital and urban landscapes bombard our senses, yet Hartel masterfully creates a composition that feels intentional and deeply reflective.

The impact of "Cacophony" on the art world is manifold. Firstly, it challenges and expands the boundaries of mixed media art. Hartel’s approach—integrating elements like scribbles, abstract geometric forms, and iconographic imagery—encourages a new interpretation of mixed media, pushing other artists and critics to rethink what is possible within this genre. Secondly, the artwork serves as a cultural mirror, reflecting the fragmented yet interconnected world we inhabit. It invites viewers to ponder their place within this chaos, prompting a deeper engagement with the art.

Paul Hartel's recognition with the Future of Art Global Masterpiece Award is a celebration of not just his individual talent but his contribution to the broader narrative of contemporary art. His work exemplifies how art can transcend aesthetic appeal and become a medium for profound societal commentary. This award not only honors Hartel's current achievements but also recognizes his potential to influence future generations of artists. It celebrates an artist who dares to imagine and re-imagine the canvas of our reality, who plays with the perceptual and conceptual to reveal the underlying currents of human experience.

"Cacophony" is more than a visual spectacle; it is a pivotal piece in the lexicon of modern art. Paul Hartel’s innovative use of mixed media and his nuanced exploration of modern life's complexities make him a deserving recipient of the Future of Art Global Masterpiece Award. His work is not only important for its beauty and technical mastery but for its ability to provoke thought, stir emotion, and inspire change. In recognizing Hartel, the art world acknowledges a visionary whose creations will undoubtedly influence the aesthetic and intellectual contours of future artistic endeavors.

Future of Art Global Masterpiece Award Jury Board and 

Marta Puig Editor of Contemporary Art Curator Magazine.

PAUL HARTEL

“HERALDING the RESPLEDENT”                       DECEMBER 12, 2018 - JANUARY 22, 2019

 Willem De Kooning declared: “What you do when you paint, you take a brush full of paint, get paint on the picture, and you have faith.”  Inspired by this credo, Ireland-based Paul Hartel creates abstract compositions which are infused with the purity of the moment as he paints a playful sense of freedom and an energetic vibrancy. Celebrating the inner sprit, Hartel’s undulating forms are rhythmically improvisational and stylistically energetic. With both a rawness and sense of urgency, his abstracted mixed media compositions boast vivacity and exuberance through a saturated color palette and bold paint applications. Capturing the true spontaneity of human existence, Hartel’s paintings are thoroughly original, balancing a firmly grounded artistic technique with a feeling of improvisation.

Drawing inspiration from de Kooning and Kandinsky, his compositions and textures work organically while maintaining visual immediacy. With a sharp eye for configuration of elements and a strong artistic intuition, Hartel uses any method of paint application that works in that moment. Experimenting with abstract and neo-Expressionist influences, he occasionally adds charcoal along with a variety of tools and techniques to apply his mediums, including pouring, scraping, and his fingers. Yielding veracity that would otherwise be lost in hesitation, Hartel’s compositions parallel the fluidity and excitement of life.

Striving to immediately captivate the viewer, Hartel’s paintings serve as a bridge between fantasy and reality as swirling abstractions challenge our thoughts and senses. Exploring figurative and landscape subjects within his abstracted style, Hartel’s bright and dark shades jostle against each other with a kaleidoscopic intensity, keeping the viewer’s eye in constant motion. 

Hartel’s work simply jumps at the viewer, drawing them into a world of joy and freedom, making it hard to not want more of his beautiful work. Internationally showcased in both public and private collections, Paul Hartel's work has been exhibited and sold throughout New York, Ireland and Europe. 

I think of my work as celebrating the spirit of the ‘inner child’ through an improvisational energy, retained in strokes, lines, and colours. I strive to create a visual immediacy that may be combatively intense, keeping the viewer’s eye in perpetual motion. I like to conceptualise my work as a bridge between fantasy and abstract reality that challenges our thoughts, perceptions, follies and wits. 

Originally from New York, I now live in Sligo Ireland. I paint with mixed media including oils, acrylics, oil pastels and charcoal, in figurative, abstract and neo-expressionist styles, with influences that include De Kooning, Mitchel, Kline, Twombly and Wool. I’ve exhibited and enjoyed representation by art galleries in New York City, San Diego, Miami, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Montreux, Athens, Venice, London and Dublin with works currently in residence at Green Gallery, Dublin, and Vivid Gallery, Sligo, Ireland. 

Reminiscent of abstract expressionism, the works of Paul Hartel allow us to see what Giovanni Pascoli called “La Poetica del Fanciullino" according to which within each person there is, precisely, a child, “un fanciullino.” The possibility of marvelling at small things, of living in a way that is disconnected from conventions, on impulse; a key principle underlying Hartel’s art. 

Hartel’s works appear with strong visual impact due to use of colours, media and technique. The artist's impulsiveness and emotionality remain etched on the canvas, creating unique works with a substantive communicative and evocative impact. Strokes are impulsive, abstraction and figuration are uniquely mixed. The human subject is represented with a hallucinated vision, creating form from deformation, and giving free rein to spontaneity. The simplification of forms and the use of strong and contrasting colours make concrete Hartel’s reflection on the primitive and archetypal character of human existence. The lines are almost absent, the definable figurative elements develop in the paintings through the colour. Black strokes give strength and rhythm to the artistic productions. The face is often the true protagonist of the works: somatic traits seemingly distributed according to a plurality of viewpoints. Paul Hartel produces works of great splendor, which lead the viewer to a sort of visual and interior ecstasy, a return to oneself without conditioning.

Martina Viesti, Art Curator