This May, UCCA welcomes Full On, an exhibition of sublime sculpture and never-before-seen paintings by Swiss artist Not Vital.

Thus far, Not Vital has been renowned primarily for his sculptures: elegant, ephemeral creations in which diverse materials such as stainless steel, plaster, coal, tea, gold, fiberglass and waxy pink Camay soap take on new and unexpected incarnations. Now, for the first time in his distinguished artistic career, Not Vital is extending his sculptural approach to the canvas, with tactile, understated, emotionally-evocative portraits executed in a simple palette of black, white and grey. Occasional and very deliberate touches of color create a sense of tension, rivet the eye and bring the canvases to life.

Full On offers a multifaceted look at the work of this versatile, restless, well-traveled and constantly-striving artist.

For more information, please read the “Not Vital: Full On” press release.