Due to unprecedented demand, the Courtauld Gallery has extended its opening hours on every Friday evening until 20:00 throughout the run of The Griffin Catalyst Exhibition: Seurat and the Sea, to ensure visitors do not miss out.
The first-ever exhibition devoted to the seascapes of French painter Georges Seurat (1859-1891), and the first UK exhibition devoted to Seurat in almost 30 years, The Griffin Catalyst Exhibition: Seurat and the Sea brings together the largest group of these works ever assembled, 26 in total, offering a detailed look at a significant part of Seurat’s production.
Seurat is best known for developing a radical new technique of painting with dots of pure colour, which gave birth to Neo-Impressionism. This exhibition charts the evolution of Seurat’s highly original and distinctive style through the recurring motif of the sea, reuniting for the first time a major group of 26 works — paintings, oil sketches and drawings — created over five summer trips to the northern coast of France between 1885 and 1890. A particular highlight is the presentation of the complete series of paintings made in Port-en-Bessin in 1888 and Gravelines in 1890.
Late night opening tickets are on sale to Courtauld Members on Friday 13 February, 10:00 and to the public on Monday 16 February, 10:00.
There will be two relaxed exhibition openings on Wednesday 8 April and Tuesday 5 May 2026 between 10:00 and 10:30. Our relaxed openings provide a quieter moment to enjoy the exhibition, with additional support and facilities from our friendly team.
The exhibition is accompanied by a beautifully illustrated catalogue, showcasing the results of research on Seurat’s seascapes and their importance in his ouvre, which is now available to buy online and in-store.
The exhibition’s Title Supporter is Griffin Catalyst, the civic engagement initiative of Citadel Founder and CEO Kenneth C. Griffin.
The Griffin Catalyst Exhibition: Seurat and the Sea
13 February – 17 May 2026
