SEAN SCULLY: PROCESSION

Sean Scully's solo exhibition at the Église Saint-Nicolas in Caen, presented as part of the 2024 Normandie Impressionniste Festival, was a profound dialogue between contemporary abstraction and sacred architecture. Running from June 21 to September 29, 2024, the exhibition featured monumental paintings and sculptures that resonated with the Romanesque church's austere beauty.

Spanning five decades, Scully’s career has left a lasting imprint on the evolution of contemporary abstraction, merging the expressive depth of European painting—particularly the legacy of Impressionism—with the formal rigor of American abstract traditions. 


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His work, known for its emotional intensity and striking visual rhythm, found a resonant counterpart in this unique setting. The architecture of Saint-Nicolas provided a powerful backdrop for Scully’s monumental installation. The exhibition featured a series of large-scale paintings and sculptural works that emphasized the dual themes of intimacy and grandeur—hallmarks of his practice. The installation extended into the adjoining, long-unused cemetery, drawing the sacred and the abstract into a quiet conversation.


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The exhibition became not only a celebration of Scully’s enduring artistic vision but also a tribute to his deep connection to the European landscape that helped shape modern painting.