November 21, 2026 – April 25, 2027
Step into a world where landscapes breathe, light becomes a living force, and nature speaks in unexpected ways. Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) will present Yvette Gellis: Toward Light and the Living Landscape, on display November 21, 2026 through April 25, 2027. The exhibition introduces the ambitious paintings of artist Yvette Gellis, The Voice of the Glacier, inspired by time spent in Patagonia.
Bringing together significant works spanning Gellis’ career, the exhibition explores the evolving relationship between humanity and the natural world through immersive paintings that exist between abstraction and landscape. Rather than depicting specific places, Gellis creates environments shaped by memory, perception, and transformation, where shifting light, layers, and textures invite viewers into spaces that feel both ancient and continually emerging.
The debut of The Voice of the Glacier serves as the centerpiece of the exhibition. Inspired by the rapidly receding ice fields of Patagonia, the work reflects on a world in constant transformation, where air, water, plants, and human life remain deeply interconnected. Instead of offering a singular environmental message, the installation encourages viewers to consider how the living world communicates through subtle changes in light, atmosphere, and form.
Often described as “futuristic ruins,” Gellis’ paintings combine organic landscapes with human-made structures, exploring themes of resilience, fragility, and renewal. Throughout the exhibition, beauty and uncertainty coexist as controlled compositions dissolve into spontaneous gestures, suggesting that order and chaos are inseparable forces within both nature and human experience.
Light serves as the glue throughout the exhibition, functioning as both a physical material and a metaphor for growth, consciousness, and interconnectedness. Across this mid-career survey, Gellis reveals an artistic practice rooted in wonder and spiritual inquiry, inviting audiences to reflect on humanity’s shared relationship with the living earth during a time of profound environmental change.
The exhibition will be celebrated during OMA’s public Exhibition Celebration on December 5, 2026, featuring OMA’s newest exhibitions and the start of the holiday season. Tickets are on sale now and available here.
If you’re interested in speaking with Yvette Gellis about her creative process, the inspiration behind The Voice of the Glacier, or themes explored throughout the exhibition, I’d be happy to coordinate an interview or share additional information. High-resolution images are available here (photo credits included in the folder).
