
Gladstone presents In the Absence of Paradise, an exhibition of new oil paintings by Nicholas Bierk in Brussels. Recognized for his psychologically charged still lifes, landscapes, and portraits, Bierk’s work collapses the distance between the extraordinary and the banal, revealing both transitory flashes of overlap between the past and the present, and the strange tension that undergirds all memory. Drawing from photography both formally and conceptually, these paintings touch upon themes that include intimacy, loss, trace, and the impossibility of permanence.
Rendered in a slightly larger scale than is typical of Bierk’s past work, these paintings amplify the undercurrent of psychic ambivalence that is hallmark to his practice. Oscillating between scenes that reference nature and domesticity, the artist recurrently mediates on the distance between the interior and the exterior, how it’s possible to evoke the familiar while simultaneously indicating the presence of something mysteriously alienated from ourselves.



















A respected voice in contemporary art discourse.
Focusing on ambitious storytelling and insightful art-world commentary. Ocula Magazine publishes in-depth interviews, critical essays and timely analysis on the artists, exhibitions and ideas driving the global art world.
Learn more about Ocula Magazine
Showcasing the best of the art world.
Ocula partners with galleries from around the world to highlight their artists, artworks and exhibitions. Gallery membership is by application and invitation, with each member vetted by an independent panel.
Learn more about Ocula Membership
Specialises in the sale of major artworks.
Led by a team with deep ties to the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and collectors. Ocula’s advisory team offers bespoke services to high-net-worth clients from around the world who are looking to acquire the best of contemporary and modern art.
Learn more about our team and services