Untitled 2025 intensifies a sense of rupture and release within a composition that appears at once restrained and volatile. Known for his process-driven practice, Defterios typically works in cycles of adding, subtracting, and reworking layers; yet here he turns to a purely oil-based approach, using thinned paint to build splashes, veils, and accumulations of pigment. A deliberate division line, evoking a horizon, establishes what the artist describes as a visual hierarchy, separating a dark, atmospheric upper field from an earth-toned expanse below. Across this threshold, a forceful detonation of fragmented strokes and speckled bursts unfolds, with smoldering hues of rust and ember suggesting a landscape briefly illuminated from within.The work engages the idea of explosion not only as imagery, but as metaphor for the energy that seems to propel itself off the canvas. Through layered gestures, splatter, and subtle acts of removal, Defterios heightens the sensation of an elemental event occurring in real time, echoing the tension between order and chaos that defines his practice. His approach, rooted in both material experimentation and a deep connection to Greek history and design, invites viewers to look past the immediate surface, uncovering what lies beneath and within the painting’s charged terrain.“I want viewers to imagine beyond the physical borders of the canvases. There is no physical limit to my work.” - Archer Defterios.Archer Defterios is a Greek-American artist based in Los Angeles, California, whose work is distinguished by its richly layered surfaces and process-driven approach. He explores the dynamic interplay of color, light, and texture through a combination of acrylics, oils, and occasionally fire, creating paintings that evolve through cycles of addition and removal. At first glance, his compositions often appear restrained or monochromatic, yet closer inspection reveals hidden depths, vivid colors, embedded textures, and structural traces that speak to the physicality of his process. Defterios’s paintings invite a slower, more contemplative engagement, encouraging viewers to look beyond surface impressions to the unseen energy within.In his debut solo exhibition, Under Marble (June 2025), Defterios presented a body of work that emphasized materiality and the act of creation itself. The series reflected his deep connection to the landscapes and textures of Greece, blending natural inspiration with contemporary abstraction. His work embodies a dialogue between presence and concealment, order and chaos, qualities that have established him as a compelling new voice in the Los Angeles contemporary art scene.