SAPCE 2 :

ANDREW ANKA

Exhibition Dates : 3 - 15 February 2026
Opening Reception : Wed 4 February 2026, 6:00 - 8:30pm

Part Two – Bread and Circuses

The Roman poet Juvenal wrote, “Give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt”. And the statement refers to the strategy of satiating the masses with distractions of food, sport and entertainment to keep them from engaging with politics and the reality of what was being done behind closed doors.

Nothing has changed since the time of the gladiators, and nothing has changed in all of human history. Narcissists and sociopaths have always run an unnecessarily cruel world; but there are more than enough of us who have the ideals and morality of Spartacus to stand up against Tyranny any way we can.

The works in this show are the frenzied results of the last few years where I was finally able to immerse myself in paint full time and find my real style and the vehicle I need to carry my voice. Krampus driving a tram with Santa onboard will always be a personal favourite image – part of an intense two-week session of creative fun on a large surface - and like all of my best, I hope it finds a good home.

As an artist who began his formal practice later in life, Andrew brings a rare depth of perspective, personal history and emotional insight to his work. Having taken up painting in his thirties, he reignited a childhood passion and over the last three decades has developed his skills with remarkable dedication and maturity.

Andrew is a natural storyteller, and his brushwork serves as a powerful vehicle for his insights. His visual language is sophisticated, nuanced, and distinctively his own. Since 2022, he has been exhibiting with Sol Gallery, where his work has garnered attention for its originality and emotional intelligence

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