Brett Charles Seiler: occasional lovers

In the exhibition "Occasional Lovers", Brett Charles Seiler explores the dynamics of casual encounters.

In large-scale compositions and smaller studies, he depicts a series of studio visitors; his paintings in the series *midday, midnight, and morning-after* are imbued with a sense of unease. Whereas his early works depicted moments of shared intimacy and desire, the figures here appear distracted, almost dejected, with emotionless expressions. The word “occasional” has something unsettling about it, according to the artist. “There are secrets and shadows; there is shame.”

Created using a reduced palette consisting of black bitumen, roof paint, and white chalk, as well as untreated canvas—which has become Seiler’s trademark—the works radiate a muted nostalgia. In conversation, the artist affectionately refers to the figures he depicts as “my people” and lists a number of friends and muses—Clemence, Felix, Prince, Bradley, Lukas, Adam, and Terence, to name just a few—a “bouquet of boys,” as one work is titled. Two women are also depicted, standing out from the rest. The portraits rarely bear a strong resemblance to their models: they are not descriptions of individuals, Seiler explains, but rather memories of the time spent together in the studio, embellished and supplemented with recollections and self-referential remarks.

The exhibition is part of Gallery Weekend Berlin.

Runtime: Fri, 01/05/2026 to Sat, 20/06/2026