Sébastien Montel Explores Intimacy and Psychological Tension in New Exhibit “The Things We Carry”
Emotionally Charged Artworks That Quietly Confront Vulnerabilities
French expressionist artist Sébastien Montel, is redefining modern expressionism with his emotionally charged mixed-media work on display at The Other Art Fair at 3Labs in Culver City, Ca from February 26-March 1, 2026.
The French-born, Southern California-based painter with a Ph.D. in Psychology is gaining attention for his evocative figurative paintings that probe the quiet complexities of intimacy, identity, and the residue of emotional memory.
“The Things We Carry” explores the visible and invisible burdens, memories, and objects that shape our lives. Each piece reflects the tension between what we carry outwardly and what we hold within, inviting viewers to reflect on personal and shared experiences of weight, responsibility, and emotional resonance.
Rooted in personal experience and psychological observation, his practice inhabits the space between emotional and psychological art. The work resists clear answers, instead asking viewers to remain with the ambiguity of human experience. Exaggerated hands, gestures, and expressions become vessels for truths beyond the reach of literal realism.
The exhibition at The Other Art Fair will include artwork from his series:
· Lonely Together - The work invites viewers into a deeply intimate exploration of human connection, disconnection, and the emotional frameworks we carry from childhood into old age.
· Finding Comfort in You - In a world defined by disconnection, these paintings serve as quiet reminders of the power of presence and explore the universal human need for compassion and connection.
· Comme des...- A series that explores the depth and nuance of emotional bonds that extend beyond blood and reimagines the meaning of family through chosen relationships.
Sébastien’s paintings have drawn recognition for building portals into emotional landscapes, with his paintings featured in curated online collections and licensed for television productions and are part of private collections around the world.
At the core of Sébastien’s work is a delicate balance between closeness and distance. His paintings bridge emotional intimacy and psychological tension, offering viewers a sense of familiarity that is simultaneously unsettled. The result is a body of work that feels deeply human, quietly confronting the vulnerabilities that shape identity and connection.
About Sébastien Montel
Sébastien Montel is originally from Paris, France and now divides his time between Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Working primarily in mixed media, he creates expressive, emotionally driven works that explore identity, memory, and the human psyche through bold color and layered surfaces. His work has been exhibited throughout Europe and the United States.