The Psychological Depth of Bartosz Beda’s Paintings

Bartosz Beda is a contemporary painter known for blending figurative imagery with abstract techniques to probe the human condition in all its complexity. He famously likens humanity to a layered chocolate cake – beneath the smooth, iced surface of society lie hidden fears and social pathologies waiting to be revealed. Through bold brushwork, smears of color, and obscured faces, Beda’s art invites viewers to peel back these layers and discover the desires and psychological depths that lurk beneath. In this article, we explore ten notable artworks by Beda featured on his Artsy profile, examining the themes, techniques, and conceptual richness that make his work so compelling to collectors, critics, and art enthusiasts alike.

1. Nuns I, II & III (2017): Unveiling the “Underbelly” of Appearances

This triptych oil painting exemplifies Beda’s early exploration of what lies beneath conventional facades. Presented in his Underbelly exhibition, the piece portrays three nuns in a manner that blurs sacred imagery with unsettling abstraction. Beda partially obscures the figures’ faces and forms, using expressive gestural strokes that erase individuality and create mystery, encouraging multiple interpretations. The painting’s narrow panels and monochromatic tones evoke a hidden world of suppressed emotions and “social pathology” behind the habit’s façade.

2. Paramount of Eternity 02 (2019): Time, Memory, and Existential Reflection

This small yet conceptually vast oil-on-panel delves into the idea of eternity. To create a haunting figurative abstraction, Beda employs layered brushwork and a muted, earthy palette. Faint human forms or faces emerge from and recede into the background as if flickering in and out of memory. The ambiguity of the imagery invites contemplation on impermanence and the sublime.

3. Meta Color 05 (2019): A Study in Surface and Gesture

Created with acrylic on Yupo paper, Meta Color 05 offers a different facet of Beda’s practice – an almost pure abstraction that still hints at figuration. With vibrant, swirling colors, the piece invites the viewer to find their own forms in the abstraction – a face, a mood, or just the sensation of color and motion. The painting explores “hidden depths beneath the surface”, emphasizing the emotional resonance of color and texture.

4. Refreshed 01 (2022): Revitalizing Familiar Motifs

Part of Beda's Refreshed series, this oil on canvas work features a distinct use of color and form, focusing on revitalizing and reinterpreting familiar motifs with a fresh perspective and vibrant texture. By partially obscuring the figure, Beda transforms a portrait into an exploration of mind and identity, balancing gestural abstraction with recognizable human elements.

5. Refreshed 04 (2022): A Whirlwind of Color on a Grand Scale

This large-scale painting explodes with dynamic brushwork and bolder color, offering what can be described as a “whirlwind of mark-making and color”. The sweeping tones and energetic textures create an immersive visual experience, demonstrating Beda’s ability to merge abstraction with emotional depth.

6. Refreshed Plot 02 (2023): Narrative in Monochrome

In this large ink-on-paper work, Beda strips away color entirely to highlight form, contrast, and line. Within the energetic splashes and strokes of black ink, one can discern the outlines of figures – perhaps a face in profile or a pair of hands – blending figuration with expressive mark-making. The drawing suggests an evolving narrative, one that viewers must complete with their own interpretations.

7. Four Seasons, Winter (2022–3): The Allure of Blue and White Abstraction

This monumental oil on canvas immerses the viewer in a symphony of blue and white, evoking a winter storm or drifting snow. Figures emerge subtly from the color fields, giving the impression of fleeting memory or distant recollection. The painting embodies the seasonal cycle as a metaphor for human transformation.

8. Whispers (2023): Echoes of Seasons and Voices Unheard

A centerpiece of Beda’s Echoes of Seasons exhibition, Whispers portrays figures engaged in an unspoken dialogue, enveloped by layered brushstrokes that mimic whispers in visual form. The painting’s scale and tonal composition create a meditative atmosphere where absence and presence intertwine.

9. Owing to the Absence (Blue 01) (2024): Gestures of Memory and Loss

This oil on paper continues Beda’s series exploring the tension between abstraction and figuration. Using a cool monochromatic palette, human features emerge from the gestural brushwork as if forming from memory. The painting captures the emotional weight of absence, allowing viewers to interpret its ghostly figures through personal experiences.

10. Owing to the Absence (Blue 02) (2024): Faces Emerging from the Void

A companion piece to Blue 01, this work features overlapping profiles or fragmented silhouettes appearing through layers of deep blue. Beda’s use of shadowy impressions evokes the process of remembering – how faces fade and reform in our minds over time. The result is a poignant meditation on loss and impermanence.

The Impact and Allure of Beda’s Contemporary Vision

Through these ten works, a coherent picture of Bartosz Beda’s artistry comes into focus. His paintings are visually captivating and intellectually intense, blending figuration and abstraction to create works that engage viewers on multiple levels. On the surface, his bold colors and gestural strokes draw the eye, while beneath lies a deeper exploration of identity, presence, and memory. His presence on Artsy allows collectors and enthusiasts to experience these layers firsthand, solidifying his impact on the contemporary art scene.

Beda’s work represents the power of painting to evoke thought, emotion, and introspection. Whether through large-scale compositions that demand immersive viewing or smaller studies that invite quiet contemplation, his art consistently challenges us to look beyond the obvious and into the unseen. Collectors and critics alike recognize the enduring value of his work, making him a vital figure in the dialogue of contemporary painting.