Tavar Zawacki aka Above

Tavar Zawacki, also known by his former pseudonym ABOVE, is a Polish and Portuguese-American abstract artist recognised internationally for his visual art.

From 1996 to 2016, he worked under the name ABOVE, gaining acclaim for his iconic “ABOVE arrow” symbol—an emblem of empowerment and the call to “Rise Above.”

Since 2010, Tavar has presented solo exhibitions worldwide, with notable shows in cities such as New York, London, San Francisco, Berlin, Milan, Zürich, Melbourne, Paris, and Miami. His multidisciplinary practice spans both two-dimensional hard-edge minimalist paintings and three-dimensional sculptural works. Across all media, his art is distinguished by sharp lines, bold colours, and interconnected forms, drawing inspiration from movements like Minimalism, Color Field, and Hard-Edge Painting.

In January 2017, Tavar chose to leave behind his anonymity and began signing his work with his birth name, Tavar Zawacki. This marked a turning point in his career—freeing him from the constraints of the ABOVE identity and opening new pathways for creative exploration.