Gregg Simpson and independent curator Allan Graubard, who have collaborated on two books, Sirenes and Western Terrace, present an exhibition reflecting Simpson’s ongoing fascination with the Pont-Aven School, reimagined through a surrealist lens.

The exhibition begins with Simpson’s return to arcane imagery and hermetic symbols, as seen in his Dream Gardens series from 2018–2019, recently shown in Paris, Copenhagen, Rome, Turin, and Padua.

Like Simpson, many members of the Pont-Aven group were drawn to theosophy, delving into occultism and Eastern religions. This spiritual curiosity led to the emergence of the Nabis (or Prophets), whose symbolic explorations prefigured aspects of surrealism.

The exhibition includes references to the coiffe, the iconic headpiece worn by traditional Breton women, whose origins trace back to Celtic druids. The canvases are precise metaphysical allegories, featuring, among others, figures on pilgrimage—such as in Simpson’s painting The Road to Pont-Aven.

The works on paper, created with gouache and pastel, begin with a more spontaneous approach but are completed with meticulous detail.

Displayed in the showcases are The Breton Modules, small works on paper created by the artist during travels in Italy, and The Landscape Talismans, painted en plein air while exploring Pont-Aven.

Simpson’s previous exhibitions at the Eugenio Granell Foundation, and the inclusion of his work in its permanent collection, paved the way for future successes such as his participation in the major exhibition and book Surrealism Without Borders, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London.