This spring, an art legend finally hits London. His name? Karl Stengel. The Hungarian artist might not have graced Shoreditch’s graffitied walls just yet, but he’s bringing his unmistakable energy to gallery@oxo for a once-in-a-century moment. Literally.
From 21 to 30 May 2025, the UK will witness the debut solo exhibition of Karl Stengel, marking what would have been his 100th birthday. A century after his birth, the exhibition opens a rare window into the mind of a man shaped by gulags, revolutions, and a passion for fusing pain with poetry—on canvas.
Stengel’s Creative Fusion: Abstraction Meets Human Struggle
At the heart of this show lies a focus keyword that couldn’t be more apt for the Shoreditch art crowd: Karl Stengel exhibition. But this isn’t just another retrospective. It’s a full-on deep dive into a life steeped in history and bleeding into art.
Born in Novi Sad in 1925, Stengel endured Soviet imprisonment, war, and political exile. Yet instead of retreating, he exploded onto the art scene with a style that bridges Abstract Expressionism and emotional representation. Think Matisse meets Cy Twombly on a rainy Budapest afternoon.
And yes, there’s drama. There’s trauma. There’s colour—and it’s everywhere.
Feel the Pulse of Postwar Europe Through Paint
Spanning over four decades of work, the Karl Stengel exhibition will feature 24 pieces, from paintings to works on paper and mixed-media compositions. Most compellingly, his rare drawing diaries—yes, actual visual journals—will be on show for the first time in the UK.
Expect solitary silhouettes, fractured doorways, and faces frozen in time. These recurring motifs offer a glimpse into Stengel’s inner world. His brushstrokes don’t just scream—they whisper stories of survival, exile, and rebirth.
Where Collage, Music, and Theatre Collide
Unlike your typical abstract painter, Stengel wasn’t shy about layering his influences. Literature, theatre, and music pulse through his works. Some pieces even use musical scores and book pages as collage elements, adding depth to already intense compositions.
Take Tribute to Maurizio Pollini 2 (2014), for example—a lyrical nod to the iconic pianist. Or Untitled 10 (1995), where notes and narrative literally fuse on the canvas. It’s not just paint—it’s performance.
This Karl Stengel exhibition embraces a multidisciplinary approach that creatives in Shoreditch will feel right at home with. Especially those already blending beats, visuals, and code in their studio lofts.
An Artist’s Journey Across Borders and Time
After fleeing Hungary in 1956, Stengel made his mark in Munich, diving headfirst into Europe’s postwar art scene. From there, he travelled the world, absorbing—and reinterpreting—global styles. But it wasn’t until now, 100 years since his birth, that UK audiences can experience his singular vision in full.
Each painting is a palimpsest of past lives, historical ruptures, and an unrelenting desire for expression. There’s no pretending with Stengel. What you see is what he survived.
gallery@oxo: A Fitting Home for the Unforgettable
Located at Oxo Tower Wharf, the minimalist space will become an emotional epicentre for 10 days this May. Its riverside setting contrasts beautifully with the fiery emotional core of Stengel’s work, making it one of the season’s most magnetic cultural stops.
Also—note this down—the Private View on 22 May (6:30–8:30pm) is shaping up to be a must-attend event for London’s creative crowd. Expect art world insiders, international collectors, and the kind of edgy glasses you only find in SE1 or, you guessed it, Shoreditch.
Celebrating Legacy and Creative Freedom
Vito Abba, Director of the Stengel Collection, puts it best: “Stengel’s art is a dynamic fusion of global artistic traditions. His life story—marked by resilience, exile, and creative freedom—feels more relevant now than ever.”
Indeed, in an age where self-expression often fights algorithms and algorithms fight back, Karl Stengel’s legacy reminds us what it means to create with fire, intention, and zero compromise.
Whether you’re a painter, poet, DJ, or dreamer, this is a moment to experience an artist who saw the world fall apart—and made it beautiful anyway.
Dates: 21 – 30 May 2025
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am–6pm
gallery@oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House Street, London SE1 9PH
