Hjalti Parelius is an Icelandic contemporary artist working primarily in oil painting and collage. His work brings together familiar imagery, visual memory and cultural references to create layered compositions that combine humour, provocation, curiosity and unexpected connections.
Drawing has been part of Parelius’ life since childhood, but painting began as a creative outlet while studying in Copenhagen. After completing his studies, he worked in advertising, where he developed a fascination with visual communication, composition and the impact images can have on how we perceive the world.
Parelius explores the space between recognition and imagination. His works bring together fragments from visual culture, design, history and personal associations, transforming them into new narratives where unexpected combinations create tension, humour and poetic connections.
Artist statement.
Parelius’s approach.
A visual language of unexpected connections.
Parelius approaches painting as a place where ideas, images and visual worlds can collide. Through colour, composition and collage, he creates unexpected relationships that balance humour, curiosity and imagination.
Collage is an essential part of his process, allowing fragments, figures and references to be rearranged into new narratives. Familiar elements can shift meaning when placed in a different context, creating moments where recognition meets surprise.
With a playful approach and a fascination for contrast, Parelius explores the space between the familiar and the unexpected. His works invite viewers to look closer, question their first impression and discover connections they did not expect to find.
Make it stand out.
2021
A Rose (is a Rose) [group exhibition] Hohenthal und Bergen, Berlin Germany
2019
10th Anniversary [solo exhibition] Gallery Grásteinn, Reykjavík, Iceland
10th Anniversary [solo exhibition] Seven Stars Gallery, Berlin, Germany
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