Céline Lyaudet: AD SOMNIA_ The Wandering of a Dream-Passer

Anno Domini // the second coming of Art & Design is proud to present:

AD SOMNIA The Wandering of a Dream-Passer
Céline Lyaudet (France) Solo Exhibition

Exhibition dates: April 3–June 13, 2026

AD SOMNIA (to the dreams) refers to the ancient rite of incubation—to lie down in Latin—which involved sleeping in a temple or sacred place to receive visions and answers from a divine entity during dreams. This practice, widespread in many cultures, is reminiscent of the shaman’s journey, as in the Dream-man figure of Ugrian culture in Northern Europe. Céline Lyaudet felt deeply related to these ancient rites in her own dream experiences and dived into those images and symbols as a great source of inspiration for her painting work.

She has taken notes of her initiated lucid dreams and visions for years, but only recently has she begun to glimpse topography, different types of places, wildlife, inhabitants, and spirits. From chaotic and fragmented episodes, a clearer path has begun to emerge—a world to explore, where Moon and Sun coexist, where she is sometimes a bird able to fly, or a wall-walker hiding in the House of the Abyss. Her body of work depicts these nocturnal journeys of visions, not as illustrations, but as partial memories pieced together from a single thread to reveal the pattern of a tapestry. The world of Dreams and painting are very similar: the desire to see further is accompanied by a surrender of control in order to be able to See and Listen.

From this need to assemble chaos were born her sculptural experimentations, Fetishes and Spirit Vessels, inspired by shamanic traditions of charged objects intended to embody spirits or ancestors that protect and heal. Created during a time of great anxiety, these vessels became receptacles to house protective spirits. Birds, dogs, or anthropomorphic figures were sculpted in clay like the small domestic idols of ancient houses, assembled with symbolic materials such as raffia, feathers, and shells. Inspired by ancient rites from different cultures, Céline seeks to articulate her personal rituals free from dogma—Rituals of Self that bring a sense of belonging to a greater Whole, hoping to See the Path beyond the Tall Grass.

AD SOMNIA is Lyaudet's third solo exhibtion with the gallery.