14 May — 30 Jun 2026 at Space Gallery St Barth in New York, United States
Space Gallery is delighted to present The Light Within, a spring exhibition bringing together a curated selection of artists whose works are shaped, inspired, and illuminated by light in its many forms.
From the radiant energy captured in Gabriella’s large-scale photography, to the luminous whites, beiges, and fractured linear forms of Victor Matthews’ abstract compositions, light becomes both subject and medium. For Matthews, shards of light continually dissect and define his works, serving as an enduring source of inspiration.
In the expressive paintings of Riz Riz Rizz, light and love are deeply intertwined — an inner luminosity guiding his brush and revealing a spirit filled with positivity and soul. Meanwhile, Rémy de Haenen’s layered tree sculptures come alive as light pours through translucent acrylic layered sheets that create the depth and shape of the trees. It dances through the petals and branches, transforming each piece into a jewel-like presence. Hannah Polskin’s flowing organic forms weave intuitively across natural wood surfaces, echoing the rhythms and warmth of the natural world.
Together, these artists invite viewers into an immersive exploration of illumination, emotion, and transformation — a celebration of the light that exists around us, and within us all.
Installation image of works by Gabriella Imperatori-Penn, Riz Riz Rizz, Sophie-Alexia Joly de Lotbinière and Victor Matthews at the Spring Group Exhibition: The Light Within at Space Gallery SoHo
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Victor Matthews
Born in New York City, Victor Matthews is an internationally recognized contemporary painter whose practice emerged from the vibrant downtown art scene of the 1980s alongside figures such as Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Blending abstraction, symbolism, and urban iconography, Matthews creates layered compositions that evoke movement, spirituality, and the rhythm of city life. His distinctive visual language — marked by fluid linework, textured surfaces, and atmospheric palettes — transforms familiar forms into poetic meditations on memory, identity, and human connection. His work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale, and remains celebrated for its emotional depth and dynamic energy.
Gabriella Imperatori-Penn
Swiss-born photographer Gabriella Imperatori-Penn has cultivated a distinctive artistic vision rooted in light, texture, and quiet observation. After training in Switzerland under renowned photographer Raymond Meier, she moved to New York, where she established a successful career spanning editorial, commercial, and fine art photography. Her work moves fluidly between still life, landscape, and abstract imagery, often capturing the subtle poetry of natural forms and atmospheric detail. In her new series presented in this exhibition, Imperatori-Penn unveils a delicate photographic exploration of flowers, where softness, shadow, and ephemeral beauty become meditations on fragility and time. Balancing precision with sensitivity, her photographs evoke a contemplative sense of stillness while revealing the mysterious elegance embedded within the natural world.
Installation image of abstract paintings by Victor Matthews and photography by Gabriella Imperatori-Penn at the Spring Group Exhibition: The Light Within at Space Gallery SoHo
Installation image of abstract diptych painting by Hannah Polskin and flower photography by Gabriella Imperatori-Penn at the Spring Group Exhibition: The Light Within at Space Gallery SoHo
Riz Riz Rizz
Riz Riz Rizz is an Indonesian contemporary artist celebrated for his distinctive naïve style paintings that blend innocence, symbolism, and emotional storytelling. Working with a visual language that feels both playful and deeply poetic, his compositions are populated by expressive figures, dreamlike animals, and recurring equine forms that have become central to his celebrated horse series. These horses, rendered with spontaneity and charm, embody freedom, movement, and emotional vulnerability while evoking echoes of folklore and personal memory. His paintings possess the textured quality of ancient fresco techniques, where layered pigments and imperfect surfaces create a sense of timelessness and intimacy. Through soft palettes, gestural forms, and subtle emotional narratives, Riz Riz Rizz transforms everyday emotions into atmospheric scenes suspended between fantasy and reflection.
Sophie-Alexia Joly de Lotbinière
Canadian-born artist Sophie-Alexia Joly de Lotbinière creates meditative abstract paintings that explore the relationship between materiality, movement, and metaphysical experience. Based between North America and the Caribbean, her practice interlaces atmospheric color fields with gestural abstraction, producing works that evoke shifting light, emotional resonance, and the ephemeral nature of perception. Drawing from both formal artistic training and an intuitive studio process, Joly de Lotbinière’s paintings invite contemplation through layered textures and luminous surfaces that dissolve the boundary between the physical and the spiritual. Her work has been exhibited internationally and continues to gain recognition for its refined visual language and immersive emotional presence.
Installation image of paintings by Riz Riz Rizz at the Spring Group Exhibition: The Light Within at Space Gallery SoHo
Installation image of abstract paintings by Victor Matthews and Sophie-Alexia Joly de Lotbinière at the Spring Group Exhibition: The Light Within at Space Gallery SoHo
Hannah Polskin
Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary artist and designer Hannah Polskin is known for her refined wooden diptychs and triptychs that merge contemporary abstraction with the organic beauty of natural materials. Working directly with wood as both surface and subject, Polskin creates compositions where fluid “squiggle” forms interact harmoniously with the grain and veins of the wood itself, allowing nature to become an active participant in the artwork. Her minimalist yet deeply tactile works emphasize balance, rhythm, and imperfection, revealing the quiet elegance embedded within natural textures. Through layered carving, subtle tonal contrasts, and intuitive composition, Polskin transforms raw wood into contemplative pieces that blur the boundaries between painting, sculpture, and design.
Rémy de Haenen
Rémy de Haenen is a St. Barth-based artist whose work explores the intersection of nature, light, and contemporary illusion through his distinctive Tree Sculptures. Son of the legendary aviator Rémy de Haenen — celebrated as the first pilot to land on St. Barthélemy and one of the island’s most iconic historical figures — the artist has developed a visual language uniquely his own. His Tree Sculptures are composed of multiple painted acrylic plates carefully layered between two rectangular wooden bases, creating a striking three-dimensional floating effect. Through transparency, depth, and the meticulous superposition of imagery, the trees appear suspended in space, shifting with light and perspective as viewers move around the work. Blending technical precision with poetic sensibility, de Haenen’s sculptures celebrate the beauty and vitality of nature while transforming the familiar image of the tree into an immersive contemporary artwork.
Installation image of abstract triptych painting by Hannah Polskin and Tree Sculptures by Rémy de Haenen at the Spring Group Exhibition: The Light Within at Space Gallery SoHo
ABOUT SPACE GALLERY ST BARTH
Established in 2011, Space Gallery St Barth is a contemporary art gallery dedicated to showcasing painting, photography, and sculpture by established and emerging artists. Since its inception, Space Gallery St Barth has built up an impressive roster of artists, curated international exhibitions, and participated in major art fairs including the Venice Biennale. As of today, the gallery has locations in St Barth and New York City and regularly exhibits internationally. Space Gallery's team has combined experience of over 40 years liaising with leading international artists and working with clients at the highest level. The gallery provides a professional and personalized service to collecting and curating. The gallery is defined by an unwavering commitment to the world of fine arts, working closely to meet your needs to deliver beautifully curated spaces and fulfil your goals by building meaningful collections.
Visit us at Space Gallery SoHo
at 428 Broome Street, New York City, NY 10013
+1 (646) 684-3377
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