Tavar Zawacki (b. 1981, California) is a Polish, Portuguese-American abstract artist based in Berlin. With over 25 years of global experience and travels across 45 countries, his work is deeply influenced by the diverse cultural landscapes he has encountered. Having lived in seven countries across three continents and speaking four languages, these multicultural experiences shape both his artistic vision and approach to life, fueling an ongoing creative evolution.

He began his career under the pseudonym ABOVE (1996–2016), gaining international recognition in 2001 in Paris for the ABOVE arrow icon, a symbol of the positive message “Rise Above.” Self-taught and unafraid to embrace that fact, Zawacki forged his own artistic path outside traditional institutions through extensive travel, observation, and hands-on experience.

His work is driven by a deep exploration of connection—how colors, shapes, and space relate and depend on one another. Over the past decade, he has refined his approach to minimalism, color field, and bold line work, creating compositions that feel both structured and fluid. Whether through layered transparency or carefully placed negative space, his paintings invite the viewer into a visual conversation that is both immersive and evolving.