The Abel Contemporary Gallery in Stoughton is known for showing the work of accomplished regional and national artists, but exhibiting young, emerging, international artists doesn’t happen as often. And that’s only one of the reasons that Pranav Sood’s work stands out.

Sood, who earned his MFA at UW-Madison in May 2020, is a painter whose work “creates excitement,” said Theresa Abel, owner of the longtime Wisconsin art gallery.

Influenced by everything from Indian tapestries to Byzantine and Gothic art, Sood’s colorful geometric portraits are the centerpiece of his show titled “I am Absolutely Absolute,” showing at the Abel Contemporary Gallery at 524 E. Main St., Stoughton, through Sept. 4.

In August 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sood bought a one-way ticket from Madison to New York City and now lives in Brooklyn, where he has a studio. Abel will interview him in a “Virtual Artist Talk” held online at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, on the website abelcontemporary.com and on Facebook live.