Fleeting, raw emotion finding permanence in colour, line and form is the magic of painting.
Biography
Hailing from New York and currently residing as in the picturesque West of Ireland, I immerse myself in the world of abstract, neo-expressionist, and outsider art brut styles, using a diverse array of mediums such as oil, acrylic, oil stick, pastels, charcoal, and pencil. I firmly believe in creating art for art’s sake, valuing the authenticity of spontaneous artistic expression. My creative work celebrates a pure, uninhibited essence while also serving as thought-provoking commentary on various social issues. It is delivered through an energetically raw and improvisational approach, bearing witness to an unfiltered truth untouched by doubt or reservation. I am driven by an unmitigated sense of urgency, mirroring the vitality of life and all its complex intellectual, emotional, and existential fluctuations. Only through the viewer’s perception can my artwork transcend and achieve its ultimate fulfilment.
Paul Hartel is a highly acclaimed artist with a strong presence in major cities across the USA and Europe. His captivating artworks are currently on display at the prestigious Green Gallery in Dublin, Ireland. Hartel’s pieces have been sought after by private collectors and social and professional organizations in Europe, the USA, and Australia. His talent has garnered attention from numerous art curators, critics, publications and magazines, earning him the coveted American Art Award in the Naïve Art Category in Los Angeles, the World Art Award in the Art Brut Category in Los Angeles, Future of Art Global Masterpiece Award in Dubai, both the Collector’s Choice and Collector's Impact Awards in New York, and the Collector’s Vision International Art Award in London. Hartel has recently been included in the 2024 Gold List of Top Contemporary Artists of Today in ArtMarket International art magazine and the Art Investment and Collectors Guide: Most Investible and Prominent Artists 2025.
Influences
Willem DeKooning, Christopher Wool, Pablo Picasso, Cy Twombly, Francesco Clemente, Franz Kline
Education
1991-1993 Master of Arts Teaneck, New Jersey, United States
1987-1991 Bachelor of Arts Ithaca, New York, United States
The artist at work
Prizes and Awards
Solo Expositions
2024 Paul Hartel, Big Screen Plaza New York, NY, United States
2024 Paul Hartel London, Holy Art Gallery, United Kingdom
2023 Paul Hartel New York, Times Square, United States
2023 Paul Hartel, Big Screen Plaza New York, NY, United States
2021 "Paul Hartel: Prints" Morgantown, W. Virginia, United States
2020 Paul Hartel: Four Works, Morgantown, W. Virginia, United States
2019 "Pourri Abstrait" Morgantown, W. Virginia, United States
2018 "24 Abstractions" Morgantown, W. Virginia, United States
2017 "Girl Talk" Dublin, Ireland
2013 34 Experiments in Abstract Expressionism, Bridgeport, W. Virginia, United States
2012 Paul Hartel, 36 Studies in Abstraction: Paintings, Drawings and Photographs Scott Hill Estate, W. Virginia, United States
2012 "Art in Provence" Bridgeport, W. Virginia, United States
1989 "Imperial Effects," Ithaca, New York, United States
Collective Expositions
2025 Two Women, Athens, Couleur Locale, Theoxenia Palace, Greece
2025 Awakening, Times Square New York, NY, United States
2025 Perilleuse Melbourne, Australia
2025 Perilleuse Hong Kong, China
2025 Perilleuse Singapore, Singapore
2025 Awakening, Arteom Gallery Krakow, Poland
2025 Warren Street Gallery New York, NY, United States
2025 Art Basel Basel, Switzerland
2025 Art Expo, Artifact Gallery, New York, NY, United States
2025 Exhibit A Gallery Los Angeles, CA, United States
2025 Sprung 9, ArtHouse, New York, NY, United States
2025 Los Angeles Art Show, Artifact Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, United States
2025 Fil Rouge, MADS Art Gallery, Milan, Italy
2025 Holy Art Gallery Milan, Italy
2025 Holy Art Seoul, Yongsan-Gu, South Korea
2025 Holy Art Tokyo, Chuo City, Japan
2024 Art Basel, Hyperion Basel Messe, Basel, Switzerland
2024 Warren Street Gallery New York, NY, United States
2024 Toronto Gallery, 282 Geary Ave Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2024 Red Dot Miami, Florida, United States
2024 Art San Diego CA, United States
2024 MAG Montreux Art Gallery, Switzerland
2024 Rojo Milan, Italy
2024 10th Autumnal New York, NY, United States
2024 Beyond Milan, Italy
2024 Vivid Art Gallery Ireland
2024 Hamptons Art Fair New York, United States
2024 Holy Art Gallery Athens, Greece
2023 Red Dot Miami, Florida, United States
2023 MAG 2023 Montreux Art Gallery, Switzerland
2023 Metropolitan Station Exhibition Paris, Place d'Italie, France
2023 Truman Brewery London, United Kingdom
2023 Tribecca New York, NY, United States
2023 Florence Biennale Florence, Italy
2023 Caos Milan, Italy
2023 The Holy Art Paris, Rue Jean-Mace, France
2023 Ritter Studio Brussels, Ernest Allardstraat, Belgium
2023 Studio Sarphaat Amsterdam, Netherlands
2023 Sense New York, NY, United States
2023 Emerging Milan, Italy
2023 Philia Athens, Greece
2023 Art Expo New York, NY, United States
2023 The Holy Art Fair London, United Kingdom
2023 Mixing Identities Venice, Italy
2023 Artoxic Milan, Italy
2023 Interferences Milan, Italy
2023 Aura London, United Kingdom
2023 Madrid Station Madrid, Spain
2022 Barcelona International Art Fair Barcelona, Spain
2022 Brain Cake Barcelona, Spain
2022 Sacrifice Milan, Italy
2022 I, the World Revolves Around Me Milan, Italy
2022 Butterfly Effect United Kingdom
2022 F**K U Milan, Italy
2022 Pretty Perv Milan, Italy
2021 Romantica Milan, Italy
2021 Philo-Poem Milan, Italy
2019 Mna Na Deise, Gallery of Modern Art Waterford, Ireland
2019 Cairde, The Model Art Gallery Sligo, Ireland
2018 Standing for Women Waterford, Ireland
2018 Heralding the Resplendent, Holiday Silver and Gold Fete New York, NY, United States
2016 Exaltation of the Abstract New York, NY, United States
2014 Substance of Abstraction New York, NY, United States
2014 Heralding the Ebullient New York, NY, United States
