“Odyseja,” translated from Polish to English, means “Odyssey.”

“Odyseja,” an exhibition of abstract paintings by Kacper Abolik, is on view, Arthaus at the Mezz, Renaissance Allentown Hotel.

Abolik’s artistic odyssey has taken him around the world.

“I’m always on a quest within my paintings and subjects,” Abolik says at the Arthaus at the Mezz opening reception June 15 for his exhibition, which continues through July 29.

“He’s young, he’s energetic and people are noticing him,” says the exhibition’s curator Deborah Rabinsky about the 29-year-old who has been covered by The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and Vanity Fair.

Abolik has been commissioned for portraits by celebrities, including rappers Playboi Carti and A$AP Rocky. Recently, Abolik completed a series of murals at Horses, an upscale Los Angeles restaurant.

Kacper Abolik is a first-generation American born to Polish immigrants, Jan and Urszula Abolik.

Amber Connection, an Emmaus clothing and jewelry boutique, is owned and operated by his mother Urszula.

Kacper Abolik is a protégé of artist Dr. Barnaby Ruhe, Urszula Abolik’s partner.

When not working out of his Emmaus studio, Abolik paints at a studio at the Ruhe Farm atop South Mountain in the Emmaus area.

After graduating from Parkland High School in 2012, Abolik attended college in Warsaw, Poland, to study Chinese language and culture. The well-traveled artist has lived and worked in New York City, Warsaw, Paris and Costa Rica.

For Rabinsky, inviting Abolik back to the Lehigh Valley for a one-man show, helps fulfill “… my intent to celebrate our artists doing something in the international world.”

At the opening reception, Abolik says, “This is definitely one of my favorites in this show,” referring to “The Sword Bearer V7” (2023; acrylic, pastel, and ink on canvas, 18 in. x 24 in.).

The abstract painting depicts a red-haired young person in black attire with a white collar. A red bird perches on the left shoulder. Brush strokes give the face a swirling sense of energy.

“I like to look at the detail of the asymmetry of the body. We all have a slight asymmetry to our details. I like to accentuate that in my paintings,” says Abolik.

A strong use of red and black, the artist’s favorites, dominates this and his other paintings in the exhibition. He says he considers black as sacred for him, while red looks “so natural” when juxtaposed with black.

What the artist calls his “red robin” inhabits several works in the exhibition.

“Whatever happens, happens. Whatever I am thinking, whatever I am feeling, whatever I am seeing.” is how Abolik describes his creative process.

The artist finds inspiration in the works of the Masters, religious imagery, mythology and theater.

His “The Twins of Montmorency” (2023; acrylic, pastel, and ink on canvas, 30 in. x 30 in.) pays tribute to a work from the past, One twin is taller and wears a mask and holds another mask. The sibling’s face is shielded by a hand. There is ambiguity as to which arms belong to which twin and their gender is not clearly defined.

“Beauty, sacred beauty,” says Abolik concerning what he tries to create with his paintbrushes. “It’s the only thing I do. It’s my obsession. It’s my life. It’s what I live and breathe.”

It’s Kacper Abolik’s “Odyseja.”

The exhibition is sponsored by Post Road Management, LLC and City Center Allentown. Arthaus at the Mezz is operated by RE:find and curator Deborah Rabinsky.

Kacper Abolik, “Odyseja,” through July 29, Arthaus at the Mezz, mezzanine level gallery, Renaissance Allentown Hotel, 12 N. Seventh St., Allentown. 610-841-4866; refindallentown@gmail.com

“Gallery View” is a column about artists, exhibitions and galleries. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com