Long Light

cadet capela is pleased to present Long Light, the first solo exhibition by artist Ellen Siebers in Paris and Europe.

In Long Light, Ellen Siebers explores how hope and light can carve their way through periods of darkness. This body of work, created over the course of a year marked by personal and political upheavals, sensitively delves into the themes of hope and positivity. The exhibition invites viewers to discover works that oscillate between vibrant abstraction and meticulously crafted figuration.

At the heart of the exhibition, the Dreamer emerges as a symbolic figure, imbued with the environment, experiences, and thoughts of the artist. In dialogue with natural elements such as flowers and landscapes, this figure embodies an exploration of the exhibition’s various themes while questioning the connections between sources of inspiration, personal memories, and the profound ties between nature and painting. By revisiting this classic theme in art history, Ellen Siebers situates herself within the tradition of painting while imbuing it with a contemporary and personal reinterpretation.

Duality emerges as a central theme, symbolized by recurring motifs such as two swans or two white flowers. These elements reflect themes of separation, connection, and the quest for hope. Works like Green Angel and Two Swans (Homage to Hilma) particularly illustrate this pursuit of solace and reconciliation, where figures attempt to bridge symbolic divisions. These compositions reveal a subtle dialogue between past and present, the intimate and the universal, creating a space where hope unfolds within the fragile beauty of human existence.

Ellen Siebers is an artist who draws inspiration from her walks and wanderings, absorbing the vibrant beauty of landscapes while reflecting on fragments of memory. In her studio, she translates these impressions into works that capture the essence of lived moments. She creates a constellation of works that are born and evolve organically. Her technique, blending oil glazes with refined textures, brings to life compositions where matter and color engage in dialogue.

When I observe a scene, there is a part of me that is engaged in specificity, and then there is a part of me, which I see as a kind of emotional sponge, that is taking in color, vibrancy, temperature, and motion. The paintings often contain both parts of myself, the sponge being the abstractions deeply felt as an observer while the more realized parts relate to specific thoughts. – Ellen Siebers

Long Light is an invitation to reflect on resilience, memory, and the persistent light that, even in the darkest moments, continues to guide and inspire.

Ellen Siebers (born 1986, lives and works in Hudson, NY, USA) earned her BFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her MFA from the University of Iowa.Her recent exhibitions include: parrasch heijnen (Los Angeles, USA), Franklin Parrasch (New York, USA), The Approach (London, UK), Harper’s Gallery (East Hampton, USA), and MARCH (New York, USA), among others. Her works have recently been acquired by public collections such as the Wolfhill Collection, the Great Meadows Foundation, and the University of Kentucky Art Museum.