Gallery
SANTA BARBARA MAGAZINE
Winter Edition 2025
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
"The art scene in Santa Barbara is becoming more global, as evidenced by the recent opening of SEIMANDI & LEPRIEUR GALLERY, helmed by French couple Fanny Seimandi and Julien Leprieur. The couple recently relocated to California after a decade on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean, where Seimandi, who holds master’s degrees in art, served as a judge, and Leprieur worked as an engineer and entrepreneur. Both are extremely passionate about contemporary art, especially work by emerging Caribbean artists who are just starting to receive international recognition. Part of the gallery’s stated ambition is to broaden the visibility of these artists and to present their work in conditions “that match its visual strength and conceptual depth.”
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805 LIVING
December, 2025
Article by Joan Tapper
“For that exhibit, Seimandi enlisted fashion photographer and Vital admirer Jen Huang Bogan as cocurator. Bogan chose paintings that “evoke the winter solstice, when daylight is softened yet not bleak,” she says, “and works that serve as an invitation for introspection.” It seems that Seimandi’s and Leprieur’s leap of faith has landed on fertile ground.”
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VOICE SB MAGAZINE
December 5, 2025
Article by Kerry Methner
“Rays of light, dappled gleams of colors and the lush shadows of foliage are layered onto the canvases of French artist Dora Vital. Her work is featured in a solo exhibition Jardin Nocturne at Seimandi & Leprieur Gallery curated by Jen Huang Bogan that opens on 1st Thursday, December 4th."
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SB INDEPENDENT
October 31, 2025
Article by Josef Woodard
“For its inaugural show, the gallery was given over to the fascinating, quasi-primitive yet erudite black-and-white work of Ricardo Ozier-Lafontaine, in the exhibition Fertilum. With the current group show Whose Paradise? the focus expands to showcase a diverse handful of Martinique-connected artists (some are from the island but now based in Paris), giving a sampling of the breadth of work in that area. Differences of medium, message, and points of view aside, these artists, in various ways, give credence to the show’s subtitle “reimagining the tropical paradise through Caribbean contemporary art.” Another point of commonality is a concern for interpreting natural influences and basking in the inherent beauty of the “paradisiacal” island while seeking
new, cliché-free avenues of expression on the subject."
“With Whose Paradise? this valuable young gallery continues to offer a fresh perspective, presenting artists from a “paradise” with fresh ideas about their home, and contemporary artistic practice. Vive le différence.” Read the full article online
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SANTA BARBARA DINING & DESTINATIONS
Fall / Winter Edition 2025
“What emerged is a thoughtfully curated gallery and exhibition space one that extends their personal story, artistic values and enduring relationships with the artists they represent. With its minimalist design aesthetic, the gallery offers an immersive, distraction free setting for viewers to fully engage with the work.”
“We believe contemporary art still has the power to move, challenge and uplift-when it rejects shortcuts and embraces beauty, depth and rigor. Our gallery champions artists who work with vision and intensity and offers them a space where their work, rich in depth and presence, can resonate fully." Read the full article online
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SANTA BARBARA LIFE & STYLE MAGAZINE
November/December, 2025
Written by Maddy Sims · Photography by Silas Fallstich
"For a moment, I could swear I’m in France. But I’m not—I’m in downtown Santa Barbara, at the city’s most intriguing new destination for contemporary art.
Many contemporary art galleries can feel cold or austere, but Seimandi and Leprieur have struck a rare balance between sophistication and sincerity. Despite the space’s polished design and the couple’s ambitious curatorial vision, this sunny corner of Santa Barbara radiates warmth and openness."
"This narrative extends far beyond the current exhibition. The gallery tells a richly layered story of the Caribbean’s small islands, bringing together French, Caribbean, and international artists. At its heart lies a steadfast commitment to foster meaningful conversations between Europe, the Caribbean, and the United States, while embracing the evolving currents of contemporary art."
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SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT
August 19, 2025
Article by Josef Woodard, seasoned arts writer and critic, recipient of the 2023 Leadership in Arts Award, Santa Barbara County
“It is not often that Santa Barbara sees a significant development in new contemporary art spaces and faces, making the arrival of Seimandi & Leprieur a cause for celebration among the city’s art enthusiasts. Open for just a month, the gallery is a welcoming, light-filled space located on Anapamu Street, in a building that decades ago housed the famous Bluebird Café. This landmark of bluegrass and folk music is now a haven for art, with a particular focus on the dynamic Caribbean art scene, beginning with the bold yet subtle black-and-white paintings of Martinican resident Ricardo Ozier-Lafontaine, in an exhibition titled Fertilum.” Read the full article online
About the writer – Josef Woodard
Josef Woodard is a renowned arts writer and critic based in Santa Barbara, with decades of experience covering fine art, exhibitions, and cultural events. He has written for the Santa Barbara Independent, Los Angeles Times, Artweek, and Rolling Stone, and has contributed numerous essays to art books and exhibition catalogues. His perspective is informed by a deep engagement with contemporary art and a long history of critical writing in the field.
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Impressive New Art Space in Town, with French-Caribbean Flavor