Celia Paul: Objects of Desire

Victoria Miro presents an exhibition in Venice of new paintings by Celia Paul, continuing the artist’s exploration of the complex relationship between the observer and the observed.

The exhibition coincides with the publication of a new book by the artist, Objects of Desire: An Artist in Venice, a painter’s memoir exploring obsession, loss and creation during a residency in Venice.

At the heart of both the book and the exhibition is Giorgione’s La Tempesta (1503–1504), on view at the Gallerie dell’Accademia. Paul was drawn to the painting by the dynamic between the male figure and the woman breastfeeding a child. In 2023, she painted her own interpretation of La Tempesta, entitled That Obscure Object of Desire, sharing its title with Luis Buñuel’s 1977 surrealist film. Paul observes that both works possess a dreamlike quality and are rich in symbolism.

Returning to Giorgione’s painting, Paul has created a new work, Objects of Desire (after Giorgione) (2026), further exploring the interaction between its figures within, as the artist explains, ‘the context of the natural forces which surround and control them’.

Other paintings explore forces that guide and influence the body, from the natural rhythms of the sea to the elusive interplay of intellect and passion, examining how these shape relationships with others and influence the different versions of the self that emerge over time.