Georges Bergès Gallery is pleased to announce Kontakt, Jean Schmiedel's first solo exhibition in the United States. Kontakt  will be GBG's Fall Opening Show and Schmiedel's largest exhibition outside of Europe to date. 

As Schmiedel explains, the word 'Kontakt', or 'contact' in English, evokes different things. Living creatures learn to trust one another through eye contact. From the moment of birth, physical contact through touch sparks attachment, a sense of security about ourselves and the world around us, and our ability to give and receive nourishment through love. Contact can be wonderful and sustaining but, depending on each individual's development and experiences, it also has the power to frighten and disturb. Schmiedel's Kontakt will undeniaby speak to each of us, as viewers, at our very core.   

German-born figurative artist, Jean Schmiedel is often described as an 'outsider' with his own unique method of creation. His works present uncommon features and hauntingly earnest portrayals of relatable characters, often animated by a variety of textures, colors, and natural materials. The inclusion of small animals in his paintings, particularly dogs and birds, allows such figures to display a broader range of emotion. Dark animals, for example, are symbolic of the carnal energy that Schmiedel pours into his art-making, and that he intends audiences to recognize within themselves. His quick gestures and uneven paint application convey his message in a very powerful and moving way.