Redefining How We Experience Abstract Painting
Alex Kuznetsov explores colour, surface, materiality and perception through process-based abstract painting. Born in Minsk in 1978 and now living and working between Paris and Portugal, Alex has developed a distinctive artistic practice centred on repetition, duration and the physical qualities of paint.
Working with acrylic paint and industrial tools, he creates constructed surfaces where movement, physical action and controlled chance contribute to the finished work.
A Contemporary Approach to Abstract Painting
Alex Kuznetsov’s artistic practice is centred on abstraction and the physical process of painting.
Rather than treating a painting simply as an image, he approaches each work as a constructed structure. Colour, material and surface interact to create a visual experience that changes depending on how the work is viewed.
Working primarily with acrylic, Alex uses industrial tools instead of relying on traditional brushes. Among these is an aluminium straightedge, which allows him to work with pressure, movement and controlled application of paint.
The resulting surfaces carry traces of physical action while maintaining a relationship between structure and unpredictability.
When Process Becomes Part of the Artwork
Process plays an important role in Alex’s finished paintings.
Rather than approaching every canvas with a completely fixed image in mind, he allows decisions to develop during the act of painting. Through repetition, pressure and accumulation, he creates surfaces that reflect the different stages of their construction.
Colour is equally important. Different tones, layers and physical marks interact across the painting, producing visual relationships that shift according to distance, light and perspective.
The aluminium straightedge contributes to the physical character of the work, influencing how paint is distributed across the surface.
Balancing Control and Unexpected Results
A central aspect of Alex’s practice is the relationship between intention and unpredictability.
The artist establishes a framework through his choice of materials, tools and colour while allowing unexpected results to emerge during the making of the work.
Each painting develops through a sequence of decisions and responses rather than the execution of a predetermined image.
This approach allows the finished work to retain the physical traces of its creation.
Paris, Portugal and a Contemporary Artistic Practice
Living and working between Paris and Portugal gives Alex an international context for his artistic practice.
His connection with Lisbon has also been explored through People of Lisbon, a video and photography project that followed his routines, decisions and work around the studio.
The project offered a glimpse into the environment surrounding his practice and the physical process behind the paintings.
His work continues to develop across different cultural and artistic environments while maintaining its focus on abstraction.
A Career That Continues to Expand
Alex’s career has developed across galleries, museums, international exhibitions and collaborations. His work has been presented in France, Switzerland, Russia, Belarus, the United States and other international locations, while his paintings have entered private collections across Europe, Asia and North America.
His collaborations include a project with Revolut.
His international presence reflects the continued development of his artistic career and the growing reach of his abstract paintings.
A New Chapter in 2026
The current chapter of Alex’s career includes several significant exhibitions and presentations.
In 2026, his work was presented in Afterimage / Condition at Galerie Diego Escobar in Marseille.
His work will be presented by Galerie Zberro at Moderne Art Fair on Place de la Concorde, Paris, from 22 to 25 October 2026, during Art Basel Paris week.
These presentations place his work within an international contemporary art context while continuing his exploration of abstract painting and material process.
Continuing the Artistic Investigation
Alex Kuznetsov continues to investigate the possibilities of abstract painting through colour, structure and physical presence. From his studio practice between Paris and Portugal to international exhibitions, his work invites viewers to engage directly with the surfaces of his paintings and discover their visual qualities through individual observation.
For more information, visit www.alexkuznetsov.org and follow Alex Kuznetsov on Instagram at @alexkuznetsov.artist.
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