Exhibition Review: I’ll be coming back as lightning

© Chloe Sells / Galerie Miranda

By Saige Buffington

Chloe Sells’ exhibition i’ll be coming back as lightning is nothing short of stunning. The landscapes featured throughout this collection kept my attention to the point that I had to force myself to look away from their beauty.

Sells combines the movement of acrylic paint with photography, making each image feel both surreal and nostalgic. The collection is unique and sophisticated, but it holds a childlike creativity and exuberance. Viewers could explore these photographs for hours and still discover more. Each piece brings a different energy to the exhibit: While some acrylic colors echo throughout the series, each photograph boasts a distinct location and point of view.

© Chloe Sells / Galerie Miranda

While each image is attractive in its own right, the one that drew my eye the most is Before the death ghost, 2019. This image is calming, despite its name: A rainbow manifests in the cloudy skies over a barren horizon. A soft, almost water-like acrylic overlays the scene.

Sells took inspiration from gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, whom she previously worked alongside in Colorado. She utilizes techniques of marbling common in Italy and Japan. While most photographers turn to digital cameras and editing programs to perfect their images, Sells uses the age-old darkroom and traditional film. She wields a Contax 645 AF and a Linhof 4x5.

This exhibition marks Sells’ second show at Galerie Miranda in Paris. Her exhibit will be open to the public from Nov. 4, 2021, through Jan. 15, 2022.

© Chloe Sells / Galerie Miranda