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Paul Seftel is a British-born artist based in New Mexico. With a background in painting, film, and writing, Seftel’s work bridges disciplines to explore nature, time, and transformation. His paintings are known for their layered textures and earthy, elemental feel, reflecting the Southwest landscapes that inspire him. Seftel’s art has been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions, and his work is held in private and public collections throughout the United States. Beyond the studio, Seftel’s practice is driven by a fascination with the natural world and the cosmic dance of light and matter.
STATEMENT
My work explores the tension between what is fleeting and what endures, weaving together memory, myth, and the cosmic to reveal quiet resonances of color and form. Working in mixed media and painting, I embrace an intuitive, layered process — building textures and light with washes of color, earth, and pigment. This tactile approach, both meditative and physical, allows each piece to emerge organically, alive with its own voice.
My background spans painting, film, and writing, all of which inform my practice. Nature, dreams, and the vastness of the night sky inspire me, inviting me to peer beyond the visible and to capture that ephemeral yet eternal quality of existence. In the studio, I work with my hands as much as my tools, letting gesture and chance guide the evolution of each painting.
At heart, my work is an invitation — an opportunity to pause and witness the dance of emergence and decay, the universal and the personal. My paintings are meditations on light, texture, and the forces that shape our lives. I hope they offer viewers a space to reflect on their own stories within the quiet rhythm of the cosmos.
Born in London '74
EDUCATION
1987- 1992 University College School, London
1993 - 1995 Edinburgh University & Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland
2003 - 2004 School of Applied Arts, Denver CO
AWARDS
Arts Council of Monterey County Artist Grant 2020
RESIDENCIES
2016 American Tin Cannery Artist Residency, Monterey California
2009 David and Julia White Artist Residency, Costa Rica
2009 Red 03 Galleria, Artist Residency Barcelona
2008 SVA Public Art Summer Residency NYC
2004 Artist Residency, Vail CO
2002 Globeville Studios Artist in Residence, Denver CO
2000 New Buffalo Artist in Residence, Taos NM
PRESS
Pasatempo, Santa Fe New Mexican 2023
GuestLife Monterey Bay 2019
Monterey Weekly 2018
Carmel Pine Cone 2018
Monterey Herald 2017
ArtVoices Magazine 2015
The New York Times 2014
Indian Country Today 2011
Architectural Digest 2010
Vail Daily, 2007
Online Journals and Blogs
Curbed, Metro Times, Detroit Eater, Whitehot Magazine, Family Business,The Blot,
Silverlake Voice, Vogue, Architectural Digest.
GROUP SHOWS
Inter-Society Color Council Exhibit 2023
Copelouzos Museum, Athens, Greece 2020
Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey CA, 2018
Art Hamptons, Bridgehampton Museum NY 2017
Meaning Made Visible, Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel CA 2017
Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, The Midway, San Francisco 2016
Land + Earth, Nido Living, San Francisco 2016
San Francisco Decorators Showcase 2016
Art Santa Fe, NM, Decker Fine Arts July 2015
Scope NYC, Titled Projects March 2015
AAF Hamburg, Thomas and Paul Gallery 2013
An Abstract View, Thomas & Paul Gallery, London 2013
Beautifully Broken, Projekt NYC @ Von Lounge 2013
Holographic Light lounge, Tasmania, 2013
The Traces, PS Project Space, NYC, 2013
Young Collectors Exhibit, Leila Heller Gallery; NYC 2012-13
'Global Positioning System' SVA gallery, NYC; 2012
Traveling Light, PSPS, NYC, 2012,
'Its a small small world,' Family Business, NYC; 2012
The Four Elements, PS Project Space , NYC, 2012
Benefit for Ai Wei Wei, White Box, NYC; 2012
Mclarry Modern, Santa Fe, NM 2011
'No Comment' Loft in the Red Zone, 23 Wall St, NYC; 2011
Geronimo Intervention -The Armory Fairs NYC- VOLTA, Pulse, ADAA, 2011
RHM benefit, Marianne Boesky Gallery, NYC 2011
CFDA Council of Fashion Designers of America Lounge Exhibit, NYC, 2010
Alliance for the Arts Auction, Christies, NYC 2010
Art Santa Fe; Volume Black Gallery NYC 2010
'That Gallery' Hong Kong, 2010
Seven Seas Gallery, Nantucket, MA 2010
KiptonArt Santa Monica CA, 2010
Red03 Galleria Barcelona, Spain 2010
Artists for Dalai Lama, Frankfurt Germany, 2009
Lana Santorelli Gallery NYC 2009
AFI Times Sq Building, United Creators, NYC; 2009
Bang & Olufsen, United Creators, NYC Frankfurt & Istanbul 2009
SVA Public Art Residency Exhibit, NYC, 2008
Paper works’BJ Spoke Gallery, Huntington NY 2008
B & O Munich, United Creators,Frankfurt: Istanbul. 2008
Lana Santorelli Gallery NYC, 2008
Broadfoot and Broadfoot Gallery, NYC 2007
Kolok Gallery, North Adams, MA 2007
Soke Fine Art. Vail CO 2006
SOLO EXHIBITS
Seftel Gallery, Cerrillos NM 2021-2023
Artsy, Asher Grey Gallery CA 2022
Seventh & Dolores, Carmel, CA 2019
American Tin Cannery, Monterey CA 2016 -2019
8th St, Exhibition showcase NYC 2017 / 2018
Astra, Alameda, CA 2017
Studio 8, Grand St, Bushwick Open Studios NYC 2014
PS Project Space NY NY 2012
Color Shift, Baco Space, Brooklyn NY 2012
PS Project Space NY NY 2011
Baco Space, Brooklyn NY 2010
PS Project Space NY NY 2010
Red03 Gallery, Barcelona Spain 2009
Midoma Gallery, NY, NY 2007
Soke Fine Art, Vail Valley, CO 2006
Globeville Studios, Denver CO 2005, 2004, 2003,
Woburn Gallery, London WC1 2001
The Engineer, London NW1 2001
Seftel has published three books to date:
The Comet’s Tale, a cosmic coming of age novel based on his early experiences of far flung travels, near death experience, invitations to indigenous ceremonies, and living rough in the desert and mountains of the U.S.
Light & Matter- a catalogue of paintings created over the last 20 years.
Post History - an exploration of U.S history and propaganda in postage stamps- the tiniest forms of public art
TERMS OF SALE ( as per Artspan)
ORIGINAL SALES:
Artist grants Collectors the right to return any Artwork purchased within a 7 day period following delivery of the purchased Artwork. Artist agrees to pay any refunds due within a 5 day period following the return of the Artwork in question. The amount refunded will not include the charge for shipping the item back from the Buyer to Artist unless the item was received by the Buyer damaged. Work that has been commissioned by the Collector is non-refundable.
In the event of any dispute regarding damaged items or other issues with Collectors, Artist and the buyer may ask Artspan to mediate said dispute. If so, Artist and buyer agree to abide by the decision and/or recommendation made by Artspan.
PRINTS-ON-DEMAND SALES:
In the event that the printer has made a mistake in printing or that the shipper has damaged the goods in transit, Artist agrees to respond to any buyer who has purchased items from the site within 3 business days to answer any questions or concerns related to the order. Artist must be informed as to the nature of the damage and may require that the buyer provide a digital photograph of the damaged print as received.
COMMISSIONS:
50% in Advance, 50% upon Completion