Abend Gallery is pleased to present In Water, a solo exhibition of new work by Zack Zdrale. The show brings together a new body of work Zdrale is creating in his studio over the summer of 2026. More about the exhibition will be shared closer to opening.

In Water opens with a reception on Friday, October 16, 2026 from 6 – 8 PM and remains on view through October 31, 2026.

When I'm in my studio or swimming underwater it's quiet and my mind can settle. Images surface and these paintings represent that space. There is a sense of calm in the color but also energetic or violent undercurrents, like water. Water can distort but the subjects are no less real. The water and its unpredictability are indifferent. It is an internal space. Like a great lake or the ocean it's a shared pace, a shared consciousness. The figures exist within this space.

Zack Zdrale (b. 1977) takes a traditional approach to his work, although his subjects and compositions place his paintings firmly in the present. He is best known for his figurative work, often describing a relationship to the self or his perception of the world's emotional climate. His paintings are imbued with a stillness and silence that leave room for the viewer to infuse meaning.

Originally from Wisconsin, Zdrale attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning a Bachelor of Science in Art in 1999. His training culminated in a Master's degree in figurative painting from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where he graduated with honors. He now teaches in the school's Graduate Fine Art Department.

Join our email list for early access to new works, exhibition announcements, and updates from Zack Zdrale.