Andrius Butvilas

Andrius Butvilas, an artist originally hailing from the village of Pavartyčiai in Lithuania’s Radviliškis district, now lives and works in Kaunas, where his dedication to art continues. His artistic path truly began in earnest following his graduation from the Faculty of Arts at Šiauliai University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 2005.

While studying art, Andrius developed a strong affinity for dry pastels and pastel pencils. This medium quickly became his primary form of artistic expression and still lies at the heart of his creative practice. A distinguishing feature of his work is his consistent use of black paper as a drawing surface, a choice that profoundly shapes the atmosphere of his pieces.

To Andrius, working with a black background imparts a distinct sense of magic to his process. Rather than emphasizing shade and shadow, he focuses on rendering light as it emerges from darkness. This inversion of conventional approach enables him to highlight his subjects in dramatic and unexpected ways, giving his completed works a mysterious and enchanting quality.

Much of his art narrates stories of birds, humans, suns, and even entire galaxies—each coming to life on a sheet of black paper. Through his original use of materials and unique outlook, Andrius likens himself to a wizard, conjuring light out of darkness and weaving vibrant tales that encourage viewers to enter realms of imagination and awe.