Melissa Gordon and Sebastian Stöhrer at Barbara Seiler Galerie Zürich

To coincide with the upcoming Zurich Art Weekend and Art Basel, Barbara Seiler is presenting two solo exhibitions at her gallery in Zurich: Melissa Gordon (with Chris Evans) and Sebastian Stöhrer.

In her debut solo show in Switzerland, Melissa Gordon unveils a fresh collection of paintings called The View from Within, a wide-ranging exploration of the hidden, recalled, and imagined spaces where women create art. Drawing from shared dialogues, studio visits (both in-person and virtual), and a dedication to tracing the unseen connections among contemporary women artists, the series serves as both a homage, a proposal, and a rejection. Each artwork centers on the window—not just as a visual element but as a structural and conceptual tool. For Gordon, windows represent boundaries between the flatness of painting and tangible architecture, between presence and absence, and between the self and others. The exhibition, like the series, functions as a rhizomatic network, linking artists, friends, and collaborators whose studios inspire each piece. Whether captured directly or shared remotely, these windows spark abstract compositions—collaged, printed, painted, and layered with intention and precision.

Sebastian Stöhrer’s art is a true act of creation. From clay—essentially the earth itself—he molds his “inhabitants”: vibrant, approachable sculptural figures, often adorned with twig- or branch-like extensions that suggest limbs. These creations radiate a playful, witty charm, yet they are far from spontaneous. They emerge from years of careful experimentation at the kiln, grounded in ancient ceramic practices and informed by a profound knowledge of chemistry and physics. Often likened to an alchemist, Stöhrer channels this early blend of science, reason, and a hint of mysticism. His process merges logic with the unpredictability of chance and intuition. Working with clay and the volatile nature of glazes, he embraces the tactile, chaotic, and elemental qualities inherent in creation. His “inhabitants” embody this philosophy: figures that seem to reflect or perhaps foreshadow a kinder, more whimsical version of humanity.
His sculptures, sometimes evoking organs or microbes, brim with humor, quirkiness, and a subtle erotic charge. Fantastical creatures and sci-fi forms intertwine with human-like elements. Trunked beings, hybrid human-animal shapes, and vase-like forms with chattering mouths populate his imaginative universe. Some figures appear to sway in motion, others gleam with iridescent tones. Natural elements like reeds, branches, and straw are often woven in, creating tactile contrast and invoking echoes of Niki de Saint Phalle’s Nanas or alluring, three-legged totems. The monumental meets the lighthearted in his work.

Melissa Gordon: What is Left and Sebastian Stöhrer: White Smoker at Barbara Seiler Galerie Zürich. Zürich (Switzerland), May 30, 2025.