🗓 Jun 26–Aug 7, 2026
📍 James Fuentes, 52 White St
🎟️ FREE
✨ Lola Stong-Brett's exhibition Sometime Somewhere Someone Is Dancing at James Fuentes in New York is the British, Margate-based artist's first solo show in New York. Working at a scale that envelops the body, Stong-Brett introduces the ocean as both setting and metaphor, with cartoon-like figures — Popeye, Bimbo, and a newly introduced female figure — emerging from fields of heightened gestural abstraction to evoke the complex, shifting choreography of human connection.
Attending Lola Stong-Brett's exhibition offers a unique opportunity to engage with art that envelops the viewer, making the ocean both a visual and metaphorical experience. The artist’s playful yet profound use of cartoon-like figures such as Popeye and Bimbo, alongside a newly introduced female character, creates an intriguing narrative around human connection and movement. Visiting this show in person allows you to witness the impact of scale and abstraction in a way digital images cannot fully capture. From my experience visiting similar immersive art exhibitions, I found that allowing myself to move around the space and interact with the works created a deeper emotional resonance. The gestural abstraction present in Stong-Brett’s pieces encourages personal interpretation, inviting viewers to reflect on the fluidity and complexity of relationships and identity much like the ever-changing ocean. The free admission at James Fuentes makes the exhibition accessible to a wide audience, enhancing its cultural value within the New York art scene. Art lovers should also consider exploring the gallery’s location at 52 White St, which is part of a vibrant neighborhood known for cutting-edge contemporary art shows. If you are intrigued by the interplay between figurative motifs and abstract expression, this exhibition promises to be a memorable and thought-provoking experience. In addition to enjoying the visual elements, taking a guided exhibition tour could enrich your understanding of Stong-Brett's themes and techniques. It offers a chance to hear firsthand about the creative process behind integrating cartoon characters into such an expansive painterly environment, further connecting the oceanic metaphor to personal and collective human narratives.
