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Andrew Birk

@andrewbirk

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+✨our baby✨ @spiritvesselespinavessa

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Between 2016 and 2018 I was spending a ton of time on friends’ ranches outside of Mexico City and I wanted to make a new body of work that pertained to the powerful rural quietude of these spaces. I couldn’t shake this childhood memory from when I was learning to ride a bike: careening down a huge grass hill on the campus of Reed College in SE Portland and wiping out hard in a sick clump at the bottom. I vividly remember watching a shin high tube sock slowly fill with blood, turning from white to crimson. The elbows and knees and legs of my pants and shirt covered with thick green scuffs that never washed out. I wanted to make paintings that felt like that.

The first time I ever tried making a Lifeshroud painting was on a rainy day at @ranchojuantepec . At some point I snuck away to a quiet corner of the property and flung myself down a muddy slope under a banana grove. Nothing really came of it, but @_alanaburns took a picture that would mark the beginning of an intense period of production.

It ended up being with the help of my best bud 4 life @rodrigo_qvintero that we really locked down the process (and fucked up the sprinkler system of his garden). I still have the first *best* Lifeshroud painting that I ever made hanging in my living room in Espinavessa. My youngest daughter came 10 centimeters from projectile vomiting on it last week.

I exhibited these paintings in small shows all over Mexico City (Burbuja in the studio of @allan_villavicencio_ & @gwladysalonzo , at Squash editions curated by @badassfeminist ,at @fuedgocdmx ,at the @museocarillogil ), at @prrclmnt ‘s studio in Paris, at Macula Malagana in Managua, in a solo at @maltacontemporaryart_ in Valetta, and in a solo at @sortvienna , the space that @mylesstart and @katharinahoeglinger were running. I’ve also shown process videos at @themodernfw in Texas and recently with @berlinartfilms .

When I was leaving Mexico in 2018, @egea.eduardo said it was a shame I never had a big show of these works in Mexico City. Who knows what the future holds. I dream of revisiting this series when Im 80, clinging to the back of a horse and holding on for dear life. by @andrewbirk

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a year ago

Here I am bored out of my drab mind in the irrelevant countryside 🥰
Painting by @josepmaynou , part of his show GAL, currently on view at @spiritvesselespinavessa
📸 by @oliviabaes taken in Espinavessa by @andrewbirk

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4 days ago

Floating House, 2026.
Acrylic on tarpaulin.
8 x 12 meters (26.25 x 39.37 feet).
Made in Espinavessa, Girona, Spain.

Currently on view as part of:

KIN TOO
Church of St. Feliu de Lladó
Presented by @spiritvesselespinavessa

Kin (family or kinship) is a term that defines the relationships that group a series of people, beings or things. Beyond the ties of blood, origin or ancestry, it also describes the close connection between entities that share the same nature, that are similar or that are aligned. The formation of this relationship can generate a group similar to that of a clan - a movement of belonging to a community, whether strictly self-defined as a mechanism of protection and identification, or a more elastic formation, with diluted or porous margins. In all cases, this relationship shapes one’s own identity in the recognition of common traits among the members of the group, and in front of the world.

Through a series of coincidences, the trajectory of each artist as a separate entity intersects with that of others at vital points, and with these encounters a network is woven, a conversation made of a language shared between its speakers. It is not a secret language but it is an understood language, which does not need explanations to reach the other in the precisely intended way. It is said that over time, couples end up resembling each other, like dogs and their owners. Although the paths of research and materiality of each artist are very different, an affinity arises from mirroring themselves in others with each gesture.

The first version of KIN, an exhibition at Spiritvessel, Espinavessa, in 2024, brought together @monia.benhamouda.studio , @michele__gabriele and @andrewbirk . In this second iteration, @sahatsajauregi and @jordi_mitja , who were already part of this intimate circle, join KIN TOO (meaning both also, and two). The exhibition brings together a new, singular and experimental gesture from each artist, which explores ways of generating a previously non-existent image through negative space, discarding, manipulating or imprinting things that were already in the landscape or in the collective imagination.
- @sira_piza by @andrewbirk

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3 months ago

Andrew Birk
Floating House, 2026.
Acrylic on tarpaulin.
8 x 12 m (26.25 x 39.37 feet).

Part of the exhibition Kin Too, @spiritvesselespinavessa @ the church of Sant Feliu de Lladó, curated by @sira_piza , with works of @jordi_mitja @sahatsajauregi @michele__gabriele @monia.benhamouda.studio and myself.
Photographed by @roberto_ruiz_fotografo_de_arte .

Twenty years in the game and art is still the most fun, playful, serious, deep, dynamic thing in my life. The thing that has brought me people and place. The thing that has found me family and home. The thing that connects me to all things. I always knew this would be my path but I had no idea what that would entail, where, how. How insane it is to have the privilege to mount a painting the size of a house inside a cavernous desacralised church on the hilltop of a tiny ancient village in a far away place. New challenges every day. New goals every day. There is no glass ceiling the ceiling is infinity the possibilities are infinite. taken in Lladó, Cataluna, Spain by @andrewbirk

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2 months ago

Azar, 2019-2026.
Acrylic on canvas.
200 x 150 cm.

There is a word beautiful enough to name a child after, Azar, which in Spanish means chance or luck or fate.

Azar comes from the Al-Andalus era term ‘az-zahr’, referring to a gaming die, specifically an ancient taba or tarsal bone with a flower carved into it. If the bone fell in such a way that the flower was visible, the player won. Or lost, depending on which account you read.
I also read that Az Zahr means “the whole mountain in flower after spring rains” 🤯
The Spanish word ‘azahar’, meaning ‘citrus blossom’, comes from the Classical Arabic word ‘zahr’ (زهر) meaning ‘flowers’, which evolved into the Andalusi Arabic form ‘azzahár’. The Andalusi Arabic term was then folded into Spanish as ‘azahar’.

To “jugar el azar” is to play with fate.

I made this painting at the end of June in 2019 in a tiny sweaty basement studio in a small town near Figueres, Spain. Sira was burstingly pregnant and the painting had to be finished before her water broke. I dont know what’s running through your head when you’re making your *last painting as a person who is totally and unequivocally singularly responsible for themselves*, but running through mine were notions of CROSSING THE THRESHOLD, LUCK, CHANCE, that the unknown of tomorrow is magic that keeps us on our toes. That all things are about to change in all ways.

I considered these things as I was painting, that there needed to be chaos and chance embedded inside the productive logic of this piece. I decided the best way to make a mark that would be indicative of said chaotic chance would be to dip a 20 meter climbing rope into black ink and, for lack of better words, lasso it onto the plane. Sometimes magic lives in places that dont make sense. What resulted was this snake-like embossed Black-Metal mandala that not even the most qualified robots in Elon Musk’s rolodex could conceive.

The baby was born on July 3rd, and we decided to name her Kaja after my great-great grandmother.

The painting was shown in Unsupported Message Format, which opened on July 10th, 2019 at Galerie Valeria Cetrero in Paris, curated by Pierre Clement.

Now I’m messing with it anew. by @andrewbirk

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a month ago

Absolute Truth as Motivational Fantasy
Acrylic on tarpaulin, grommets & bungee cords.
95 x 114 cm
2026

Currently on view in Portals, my solo exhibition at @galeria__alegria until June 25th, 2026

Photos by the great @roberto_ruiz_fotografo_de_arte taken in Galería Alegría by @andrewbirk

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3 months ago

Installation view. Kin Too. Spiritvessel @ Sant Feliu de Lladó. Image by Roberto Ruiz.

With the support of:
Diputació de Girona
Generalitat de Cataluyna, Departament de Cultura

Michele Gabriele. July 2nd, 2026. (Left)
Jordi Mitjà. Negatiu reconsiderat #1. (Right)
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Detail. Michele Gabriele. July 2nd, 2026.
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Michele Gabriele. July 2nd, 2026.
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Sahatsa Jauregi. Pájaros, 2026.
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Sahatsa Jauregi. Pájaros, 2026.
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Detail. Sahatsa Jauregi. Pájaros, 2026.
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Jordi Mitjà. Negatiu reconsiderat #1.
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Jordi Mitjà. Negatiu reconsiderat #2.
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Detail. Jordi Mitjà. Negatiu reconsiderat #2.
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Jordi Mitjà. Negatiu reconsiderat #1.
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Jordi Mitjà. Negatiu reconsiderat #3.
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Jordi Mitjà. Clau partida / Lock, 2026.
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Michele Gabriele. July 2nd, 2026. (Top).
Monia Ben Hamouda. Ghost (Lladó), 2026.
Ghost (Espinavessa), 2026. (Bottom).
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Detail. Monia Ben Hamouda. Ghost (Espinavessa), 2026.
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Monia Ben Hamouda. Ghost (Lladó), 2026. (Top).
Ghost (Espinavessa), 2026. (Bottom).
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Monia Ben Hamouda. Ghost (Lladó), 2026. (Top).
Ghost (Espinavessa), 2026. (Bottom).
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Andrew Birk. Floating House, 2026.
Image by Roberto Ruiz.

Installation view. Kin Too. Spiritvessel @ Sant Feliu de Lladó. Image by Roberto Ruiz.

The church of Sant Feliu de Lladó.
Image by Roberto Ruiz. taken in Lladó, Cataluna, Spain by @andrewbirk

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2 months ago

"Portals"
Artist: Andrew Birk @andrewbirk
📍Galeria Alegria, Ronda de la Via, 7, 08903, Barcelona, España @galeria__alegria
26.06-25.07.2026

Read the complete text on lowgroundpressure.blog web platform (🔗 in stories) and find the exhibition on the offseen map (@offseen_official).

📸 Roberto Ruiz @roberto_ruiz_fotografo_de_arte, courtesy the artist and the gallery;

#contemporaryart #artisttoday #lowgroundpressure #arttoday #artist taken in Barcelona, Spain by @andrewbirk

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3 months ago

We are delighted to share some views from Andrew Birk's first exhibition at the gallery.

Birk uses circumstantial constraints as conditions, transforming obstacles into objectives to be overcome in the act of creating a painting. This self-imposed dynamic of overcoming limitations is the backbone of a series of works that unfold across diverse materials, where the method becomes the language, and the performance of the painting action resonates on the surface.

His solo ‘Portals’ is on view until July 26!!!

📷 by @roberto_ruiz_fotografo_de_art
🖋️ by @sira_piza

#andrewbirk
#contemporarypainting
#galeriaalegria
@andrewbirk by @andrewbirk

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3 months ago

What a beautiful, sweltering opening last night.
I am elated to have an exhibition open in Barcelona. I take none of this for granted.

Thank you so much Sebas and Patricia @galeria__alegria and @tommaso_nabiuzzi for everything. Viva Happy Gallery! 🎉🎉🎉

ps read @sira_piza ‘s text (slide 2) 🙌 taken in Galería Alegría by @andrewbirk

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4 months ago

Beautifully brilliant simple deep poetic show by @linalapelyte hit me with a wall of pine and pianic nostalgia and hope. Viewers collectively transfixed, disbelief suspended, the world is good and people work together and love is real. Little kids knew exactly what to do and old people transformed into little kids, smiles in their hearts. Building, falling, building, falling, sweating, singing in rhythm. Great Art can penetrate in ways we are not prepared for. I’m proud that my daughters could feel this. @hamburger_bahnhof you are a world treasure! taken in Hamburger Bahnhof - Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart by @andrewbirk

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6 months ago

Thank you @claragassullquer & @israelarino for offering up your beautiful façade!

🧹🧹🧹

Carrer de la Font, 14.
8 x 5 meters
Acrylic on tarpaulin
2026 taken in Espinavessa by @andrewbirk

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6 months ago