Soho Art Gallery Exhibit

Throughout October, Dream the Dreams of Angels will be on view every Saturday at The Well’s gallery space in SoHo. Stop by anytime between 2–5pm to enjoy a glass of wine or a beverage while taking in the work at your own pace.

The paintings themselves are luminous and playful. Inspired by two powerful experiences—watching a toddler dance with unselfconscious delight and standing in a North Carolina field lit by thousands of synchronous fireflies—Richard K. Stephens has created glowing canvases where children and fireflies shimmer together in fields of light. Layered oil on linen gives the works a tactile richness, evoking light in motion and inviting viewers to step closer and see the surface change as they move.

Stephens sees these children as “the dreams of angels”—expressions of wonder, trust, and presence. Yet the works are not simply about childhood; they point us back to a way of being we often forget as adults. They remind us that innocence isn’t lost, but something we can still recognize, protect, and even return to.

At The Well, we believe art plays a vital role in our culture. The arts have a unique way of awakening us to beauty, disrupting the ordinary, and opening space for the sacred within public life. This exhibit offers a pause from the city’s noise—a chance to stand before beauty, remember what moves you, and see the world with fresh eyes.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Richard K. Stephens has worn many hats in the art world—as painter, curator, historian, and critic. He studied with figures such as Linda Nochlin and contributed to the catalogue raisonné of Jean-Michel Basquiat. After a 20-year pause from painting, he returned to the studio in 2023 with a renewed sense of purpose.

Host or Publisher The Well