Confluences: Aurore Brunet, Alejandro Caiazza, Stephan Beauvais, and Michael Banks at Gallery on First
Gallery on First, located in Sanford, Florida, is an eclectic contemporary art space officially founded in 2005 by American patron and collector Howard Marks. The gallery operates within the historic Hotchkiss Building (built in 1887) and has established itself as a cultural landmark in Central Florida. Its curatorial focus is on contemporary American and international art, giving significant space to self-taught, outsider, and folk art.
Under the premise of prioritizing originality and accessibility, the institution exhibits works by global creators while maintaining a close connection with the local creative community. One of its most distinctive features is its open studio concept, a format that invites visitors to interact directly with the artists, learn about their processes, and witness the evolution of the works, transcending mere passive contemplation in favor of a dynamic and creative exchange.
On this occasion, the gallery presents a group exhibition bringing together the visions of four prominent international artists:
Aurore Brunet (France, 1974)
Born in Toulouse, Aurore Brunet demonstrated a deep interest in the visual arts from an early age. She trained under Berta Maillol, granddaughter of the renowned sculptor Aristide Maillol, an experience that strengthened her fascination with Impressionist painting. Her aesthetic approach combines the chromatic richness of Impressionism with contemporary supports and découpage, a technique based on adhering paper or fabric cutouts to various surfaces which, when sealed with varnish, simulate a painted finish. In 1997, her work received the Grand Prize at a major regional art exhibition in France, a competition that included more than 300 artists.
Alejandro Caiazza (Argentina, 1972)
Originally from Santa Fe, Argentina, Alejandro Caiazza grew up and trained in Venezuela before launching his international career and becoming part of Manhattan’s Lower East Side art scene. He is widely recognized for a raw, visceral, and highly expressive style that merges Neo-Expressionism, Art Brut, and Outsider Art. Through a distinctive iconography, his work addresses fundamental tensions of the human condition, including migration, marginalized communities, madness, absurdity, existential anxiety, and the use of sarcasm as a critical tool.
Stephan Beauvais (France, 1975)
Born in Arras, France, Stephan Beauvais develops an intimate visual narrative rooted in memory, affection, and introspection. His artistic language relies on a soft and subdued palette that creates atmospheres of silence and contemplation. His paintings function as invitations to pause, offering viewers a space for reflection and emotional resonance, sheltered from the noise and acceleration of contemporary life.
Michael Banks (United States, 1972)
Born in Alabama, Michael Banks has developed a body of work centered on the exploration of the psyche and the fragile emotional balance of everyday life. His visual language emerges from the hybridization of contemporary popular culture and urban street art. As a self-taught artist associated with Outsider Art, Banks investigates the complexities of the human soul, revealing both the social masks that conceal personal emotions and the inner demons with which individuals coexist. His work is distinguished by thematic consistency, unconventional materials, and a highly recognizable aesthetic identity.
Visitors are invited to contemplate and enjoy the confluence of artistic languages and perspectives presented by these four creators at Gallery on First, located at 211 East First Street, Sanford, FL 32771.
