Sweet sprays of color at play at Oolong Gallery’s newest exhibition, ‘Zuckerzeit’

A new series of artist Bas Louter’s vibrant spray-painted works of art debuted at Rancho Santa Fe’s Oolong Gallery last month. The colorful exhibition called “Zuckerzeit” will be on view through Jan. 5, 2026, with canvases that double as backdrops for informal performances by gallery staff, wearing matching sweat suits hand-painted by the artist.

Louter is a Los Angeles-based Dutch artist who utilizes spray paint for his drawings, paintings and clothing. His work is featured in several collections in both Europe and North America. The title “Zuckerzeit” (meaning “sugar time” in German) was inspired by an album by the Krautrock band Cluster, which relates to Louter’s use of vibrant, sugary colors.

“The repetitive and mechanical nature of his work seems to echo the industrial and mechanized features of a colossal city, a place where memory is erased and movement and failure are in a constant cycle,” wrote Oolong Gallery owner Eric Laine.

The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 6030 La Flecha in the Rancho Santa Fe village. Appointments are advised.