BIO:

Pavol Zelina (b. 1978, Slovakia) is a contemporary artist based in Utrecht, Netherlands. He works primarily in acrylic abstract painting, conceptually supported by drawing and photography. Zelina is best known for his expressive and dynamic use of color and form in multi-layered compositions that evoke movements ranging from lyrical abstraction to urban graffiti. His works are distinguished by the incorporation of spray paints and paint markers, which introduce varied textures, drips, and visual effects. A defining feature of his paintings is a unique, simplified signature - an abstraction of his name - customized in color and form for each work.

Zelina’s practice centers on exploring the cognitive forces that drive artistic creation, questioning traditional assumptions about relevance and necessity in the creative process. His work critically investigates what constitutes meaningful artistic choices and which elements may be considered extraneous. Notable among his recent projects is a 2024 painting series that revisits and expands upon his earlier work Untitled (4945) (2017), pushing compositional boundaries with increased complexity, a wider color spectrum, and new visual motifs. This body of work marks a significant evolution in his artistic trajectory.

Pavol Zelina has exhibited widely, including at Gallery Art&Miss, Paris (2019 - 25); Gallery Art Keller 24, Utrecht (2018); and Gallery Maison de la Lithographie Les Amis De Frédéric Charmat, Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule (2015), among others. His work is part of the permanent collection of Gallery Maison de la Lithographie Les Amis De Frédéric Charmat and is held by private collectors across the USA, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Slovakia. Zelina’s early recognition at age 21 includes an honorary mention at the 1999 National Exhibition of Non-Professional Visual Art in Bratislava, Slovakia.

CV:

Born 1978, Prešov, Slovakia
Resides in Utrecht, Netherlands


SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2015, Gallery Maison de la Lithographie Les Amis De Frédéric Charmat, Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, France
2004, ‘Warum der Mensch’ – Gallery ‘Atelier Unsichtbar’, Stuttgart, Germany
2003, ‘Warum der Mensch’ – Gallery ‘Grüner Ängel’, Heidelberg, Germany

GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2025, ‘Gooi & Vecht. Groen, Monumentaal en Creatief’, Het Nederlands Vestingmuseum, Naarden , The Netherlands
2025, ‘Art Abstrait’ Gallery ‘Art&Miss’, Paris, France
2024, ‘Bleu, bleu, bleu les rêves en bleu’ Gallery ‘Art&Miss’, Paris, France
2023, ‘Exposition Internationale’ Gallery ‘Art&Miss’, Paris, France
2019, Gallery ‘Art&Miss’, Paris, France
2018, Gallery ‘Art Keller 24’, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2015, ‘Musée Adzak’, Paris, France
2008, ‘West Cove Studios’, City Wide Open Studios, New Haven, USA
2004, Gallery ‘Grüner Ängel’, with Matthias Maaβ, Heidelberg, Germany
2004, International center Heidelberg, ‘Action Inter’ with poet Joerg Martin Hartmann, Heidelberg, Germany 
1999, National exhibition of non-professional visual art ‘Výtvarné spectrum’ Bratislava, Slovakia (Honorary mention)
1999, ‘Artistic aspirations’ Bratislava, Slovakia

COLLECTIONS:
Permanent collection of Gallery Maison de la Lithographie Les Amis De Frédéric Charmat, Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, France.
Pavol Zelina is collected by various private collectors in USA, France, Germany, Netherlands and Slovakia.

AWARDS:
1999, Honorary mention, National exhibition of non-professional visual art ‘Výtvarné spectrum’ , Bratislava, Slovakia
1999, Diplom, ‘Artistic aspirations’ Bratislava, Slovakia