​Seimandi & Leprieur is a contemporary art gallery founded in Santa Barbara by Fanny Seimandi and Julien Leprieur, a couple originally from France. After living in Martinique for ten years, we chose to open an exhibition space that is both rigorous and welcoming, one that reflects our journey, our values, and our long-term commitment to artists.

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It was in Martinique that we first encountered the depth, power, and diversity of contemporary Caribbean art. The exhibitions, talks, and publications of the Fondation Clément played a key role in our immersion, allowing us to follow the work of major artists whose often large-scale, territory-rooted works immediately struck us. We began collecting, building relationships, and closely following the evolution of these artists, many of whom are now shown in leading institutions in France, Europe, and the United States.

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Our ambition is to broaden the visibility of these artists, whose recognition is well underway but too often confined to limited circles. Their work deserves a wider audience, and to be presented in conditions that match its visual strength and conceptual depth.

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Opening a gallery is the natural extension of this trajectory. It is also rooted in a long-standing passion for art. For Fanny, art has always been a family affair: exhibitions, galleries, and biennials were part of her upbringing and helped shape her enduring passion for contemporary creation. Trained as a lawyer, she served as a criminal judge for fifteen years, while also resuming her studies to earn a Master’s in Art Market Studies from the Sorbonne. She completed her graduate internship at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris (one of Europe’s leading institutions for emerging contemporary art) where she contributed to the coordination of the Nouvelles Vagues exhibition.

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Julien, a trained engineer, ran a business in Martinique before channeling his skills into contemporary art, a field he has long been passionate about. Deeply moved by the physical and spiritual impact of Ricardo Ozier-Lafontaine’s large black-and-white paintings, he trained in all aspects of exhibition production: transport, handling, installation, lighting, and conservation. He approaches each exhibition layout as a structure designed to guide the viewer’s gaze, in close dialogue with the artists. His technical precision is paired with a strong aesthetic sensibility shaped by years of discovery and exchange.

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Our move to the United States was also a life project. Long drawn to American culture, from modern art (Franz Kline, Mark Rothko, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sol LeWitt) to literature (Paul Auster, Don DeLillo, John Irving), rock music and cinema, we dreamed of sharing that everyday culture with our children. We chose Santa Barbara for its architectural beauty, cultural openness, and the presence of a vibrant community of collectors and art lovers. We were warmly welcomed upon our arrival, which allowed us to quickly take part in the 1st Thursday Artwalk, a key moment in the city’s artistic life.

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The gallery is located in the former Bluebird Café, an iconic venue of Santa Barbara’s 1970s music scene. We fully renovated the space to meet international exhibition standards while preserving the spirit of the building. Each installation is designed to offer the artworks a clear and refined setting, inviting focused viewing and a sensitive experience.

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Our programming centers on artists we have known and followed for years, whose recognition is already well established. We do not present “emerging” art in the strict sense, but rather works by artists with strong professional trajectories, some of whom are represented in major institutional collections.

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At the same time, we are committed to supporting emerging local voices. Beginning in 2026, we plan to host an annual group exhibition of young contemporary artists from California. Still in development, this initiative may involve partnerships with one or more local art schools. The goal is to offer early-career artists rare visibility in a professional setting, while contributing to the region’s dynamic art scene.

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Our mission is clear: to create dialogue between artistic scenes, to accompany ambitious careers, and to offer visitors a space that is both exacting and open, where powerful works invite us to see the world through singular, resonant perspectives.