Upcoming Shows and Events
CALL FOR ENTRY: New Year, New View. Affordable Art & Art Swap
CALL FOR ENTRY: New Year, New View
Affordable Art & Art Swap- A chance to meet artists and become a collector! January 17 - February 21, 2026 Exhibition
Sophia Stef Gallery
3rd Floor, 28 N Union Street, The People’s Store, Lambertville, NJ
Start the new year with a revamp—physically, creatively, and energetically.
New Year, New View is an exhibition for artists ready to share powerful works that deserve a new audience. Each artist must submit two standout artworks—a past favorite, an experimental leap, or a piece that’s been waiting to be seen—and let one juried work take center stage. This is your chance to bring your work to new eyes, new energy, and a new year of possibilities. Join the energy at Sophia Stef Gallery and take part in the growing creative momentum carried into the fresh new year.
This exhibition is great for collectors, artists seeking a reset, and anyone embracing a fresh slate for 2026. It’s a show centered around renewal, positive energy, and starting the year off strong.
Each submission must be for sale and priced at $150–$400.
Artists earn 80% commission on all works sold! Open to all 2D works (including photography) and 3D works.
Participating artists also have the chance to participate in an Art Swap. It’s a fun new way to meet other artists, discuss their work, explore new avenues of creativity and even have a chance to bring home the work of your choosing at the end of the show.
How the Participating Art Swap Works:
Beginning at 3 pm, on January 17th artists are invited to a pre-opening, thought-provoking artist-only reception.
Artists will have the opportunity to fill out a slip to identify the piece they would love to swap their work for. Simply use the assigned number and place the slip in the art swap box for the chance to swap your art with another of your choosing. No need to rush. Think over your swap. It is open to all entered artists until 5 p.m. February 20.
All votes will be anonymous and the swap will only occur for slips that are mutual.
Any works purchased during the course of the show are no longer eligible for swapping.
Each artist gets one swap and once a selection is made and placed in the swap box it is official.
All artwork will be available for swap UNLESS otherwise stated upon submission.
See something you LOVE? February is the perfect time! ;)
Guidelines
Must submit two pieces
Must be priced no lower than $150
Must be priced no higher than $400
Approx. max size: 24 x 20 inches (including any framing) *If your piece does not meet the exact size requirements but has met all the other parameters, please contact Sophiastefgallery@gmail.com*
Must be gallery ready (Ready to hang with proper hardware, etc.)
Must be an original work done by the artist
$30 flat submission fee
This exhibition welcomes:
• Past-series pieces or archived work
• Experiments and transitional pieces
• Inventory you’re ready to let go of
• Artwork that deserves a second chance at being seen
*Gallery owner has the right to refuse any and all unqualified submissions at gallery owner’s discretion.
To Submit and Participate
Email Sophiastefgallery@gmail.com with:
Full name
Artist group affiliation (if applicable)
Phone number
Title, medium, dimensions of both works
One image of each piece
A brief note if you do not wish to participate in the swap. Participation is assumed UNLESS otherwise stated in submission email
Fee and Commission
• $30 flat participation fee
• 80% commission to the artist on all sales (Gallery retains 20%)
Acceptable forms of payment
Zelle: 267-756-3559 (preferred due to zero fees)
Cash or check (delivered or mailed to the gallery)
Venmo: @SophiaStefGallery
LAST DAY TO APPLY: Sunday, January 4th 11:59PM
*Artwork will not be reviewed if payment is not received and all requested materials are not included.*
Exhibition Details
LAST DAY TO APPLY: January 4th 11:59PM.
NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTED WORK: January 5th - 6th.
SHOW DURATION: January 17 - February 21, 2026.
ART DROP OFF: January 10th - 11th between the hours of 11am-5pm (or unless otherwise coordinated). A brief Artist Contract must be signed at the time of drop-off.
OPENING RECEPTION + SILENT ARTIST PREVIEW: Saturday, January 17th.
Silent preview will be from 3-4 PM. Only participating artists will get a first look at the show and in a relaxed environment. See something you like? Let the potential art swapping commence by filling out the swap slip form!
Opening Reception will be from 4-6PM: Live music, light fare, and drinks. All are invited!
CLOSING RECEPTION + ART TAKE HOME: Saturday, February 21st, 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Mutual Swap Announcements and artist take-home!
ART PICK-UP: Any remaining artwork must be picked up in person by March 1st during gallery hours.
Questions?
Email: Sophiastefgallery@gmail.com
Location: Sophia Stef Gallery
3rd Floor, 28 N Union Street, The People’s Store, Lambertville, NJ
Be part of the energy at Sophia Stef Gallery and step into a new year fueled by creative momentum and collective support!
Continue the Narrative OPENING RECEPTION!
Sophia Stef Gallery presents Continue the Narrative, a group exhibition featuring 44 artists from across the U.S., representing a wide range of mediums and approaches. Nearly 100 works explore the idea of continuation—each artist contributing two related pieces that form a visual dialogue, with the second acting as a response, echo, or extension of the first. Together, they invite viewers to consider how ideas evolve and stories unfold through art.
Join us for the opening reception with live music, drinks, and light fare
Transformed by Textile Closing Soiree
Your invited!
Join us for an evening of drinks, music, good conversation and a chance to give Transformed by Textile the send-off it deserves!
One final chance to check out the community loom project by New Hope Arts Center, contribute to our very own community loom, and be immersed in a completely fabric-based world.
CALL FOR ENTRY- “Continue the Narrative”
Call for Entry: Continue the Narrative
Exhibition Dates: November 1 – December 28, 2025
Location: Sophia Stef Gallery
3rd Floor, 28 N Union Street, The People’s Store, Lambertville, NJ
Close out the year with work that pushes your narrative forward.
Continue the Narrative invites artists to reflect, revisit, and reimagine. Each submission will consist of two related works—a visual dialogue. Artists may choose to build upon a previous piece, use previous works, or begin from scratch, creating a second element that continues the story.
The second piece must serve as a response, echo, or extension of the original.
Show us how your vision and story unfold.
All styles and experience levels are welcome. Paint it, sculpt it, stitch it, just don’t snap it. No photography, please. (Sorry photographers, we still love you)
Artists receive a high 80% commission on all works sold!
Submission Guidelines
Up to 2 submissions (4 pieces total – 2 pairs of related pieces)
$40 flat submission fee
Each pair of works must be conceptually or visually connected.
How to Submit
Email: Sophiastefgallery@gmail.com including all following information.
Artist Information
Full name
Artist group affiliation (if applicable)
Phone number
Email address
Artwork Information (for each piece):
Title
Medium
Dimensions
Price
At least 1 image per work (2 preferred: full + detail shot)
Brief narrative/statement about each pair
What do you want the viewer to know when looking at your work? Should they contemplate something? Feel something? Follow a thread? Let us into your process and intention—what connects the two pieces, and how does the story unfold.
Payment Options
Zelle: 267-756-3559 (preferred due to zero fees)
Cash or check (delivered or mailed to the gallery)
Venmo: @SophiaStefGallery
Deadline to Submit
All requested materials and payment must be submitted no later than Sunday, October 19 by 11:59pm
Submissions will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis once all required materials and payment are received, with all applicants notified no later than Tuesday, October 21. We recommend submitting early for the chance to receive earlier notification and drop of coordination, but all entries received by the deadline will be equally reviewed.
Jurying Process
Only artworks juried into the exhibit will be displayed.
Selections will be made by curator and gallery owner Sophia Stefanowski.
Sophia, a Bucks County native and founder of Sophia Stef Gallery, holds a degree in art history and began her career as a fine art cataloger at Rago Auctions in Lambertville. Her deep connection to the local arts community and extensive art knowledge inform every aspect of the gallery’s direction.
Exhibition Timeline
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Sunday, October 19 by 11:59pm
NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTED WORK: Submissions will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis, with all applicants notified no later than Tuesday, October 21.
We recommend submitting early for the chance to receive earlier notification and drop of coordination, but all entries received by the deadline will be equally reviewed.
ART DROP-OFF DEADLINE: Sunday, October 26 by 6pm (in person)
Art can be dropped off during gallery hours at any point after notification of accepted works. Gallery hours can be found at Sophiastefgallery.com
A brief artist contract must be signed at drop-off
All work must be gallery-ready. Fully complete, properly framed (if on paper), wired (if on canvas), etc.
All work including any packaging must be labeled. Any unsold art will return to the artist in the packaging it arrived in unless otherwise specified.
OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, November 8, 4:30 – 6:30 PM. Live Music, Drinks, Light Fare. All are invited!
ART PICK-UP DEADLINE: Friday, January 9 (in person)
While not mandatory, all accepted artists are encouraged to gallery sit for at least part of one day during the exhibition. It is a great way to connect with visitors, meet fellow artists, and immerse yourself in the space and surrounding art. A sign-up sheet will be sent to all accepted artists.
Location
Sophia Stef Gallery
3rd Floor, 28 N Union Street
The People’s Store, Lambertville, NJ
Questions?
Email: SophiaStefGallery@gmail.com
Opening Reception - Transformed by Textile
Its time to celebrate our new show: Transformed by Textile and your invited! This dynamic group show is dedicated entirely to fiber- based art, featuring the work of eight different textile artists, a community loom project, and previous community textile works done by The New Hope Arts Center. This is a must- see exhibit.
Light fare, drinks, music, and of course new art. See you there!
“Transformed by TEXTILE”—A New, Dynamic Group Show Dedicated Entirely to Fiber-Based Art
Beginning September 11 through October 16, Sophia Stef gallery will be transformed by TEXTILE—a new, dynamic group show dedicated entirely to fiber-based art. Textile art is a form of art that utilizes fibers from plants, animals, or synthetic sources to create practical or decorative objects. It encompasses a wide range of techniques like weaving, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, and quilting.
Textile is more than just fabric—it's technique, tradition, and transformation. This five-week exhibition highlights artists who work with or incorporate textile techniques, blending craft with contemporary art and storytelling with structure. Where softness meets strength, and every piece invites a closer look. Expect rich textures, bold colors, layered meaning—and the unexpected.
Closing Reception and “Best in House” Announcement
Celebrate the closing of our first call for entry show ‘One Day, One Work’ at Sophia Stef Gallery!
Best in House
Voting will be people’s choice, held in-gallery throughout the show.
The winning artist will be announced during the closing reception on Saturday, September 6th from 4:30-6:30.
Winner receives:
Solo Feature post on the gallery Instagram (@Sophiastef_gallery) + story highlight
Waived submission fee for a future Sophia Stef Gallery call for entry show!
Opening Reception for “One Day, One Work”
Join us for the opening reception of One Day, One Work, Sophia Stef Gallery’s first open-call exhibition!
Enjoy an evening of live music, light fare, and art inspired conversation as we celebrate the artists who embraced the challenge of creating a single work in just one day. Guests will have the opportunity to vote for the “Best in House” award. The winner will be announced at the closing reception and will receive a solo feature post on our Instagram (@sophiastef_gallery), a story highlight, and a waived submission fee for a future open call at the gallery.
Come connect, explore, and support a vibrant mix of creative voices — we can’t wait to see you there!
Call for Entry: “One Day, One Work”
To mark Sophia Stef Gallery’s first-ever open call, artists are invited to take on a playful summer challenge.
Artist Talk with JoAnne Artesani
Join us for an intimate artist talk with award winning JoAnne Artesani, a textile and oil painter based in Solebury, PA. Her work explores the intersection of softness and structure, combining the precision of modern quilting with the depth and richness of oil painting.
Light refreshments will be provided!
RSVP recommended: Sophiastefgallery@gmail.com
Location: 3rd Floor, 28 N Union Street, The People’s Store, Lambertville, NJ
A glimpse about JoAnne
I have lived in some of the greatest U.S. cities including Seattle, Boston Austin, NYC, but New Hope, Pennsylvania in beautiful Bucks County is where I call home. My work is largely focused in oil and modern quilting, sometimes combining the two.
I have a deep appreciation for detail and technical execution of abstract ideas which you will find across both by preferred mediums. While I don’t typically execute purely abstract work, artists who work in these formats most often draw and keep my attention.
Each piece I create brings me closer to my authentic artistic voice. Whether through stitches or brushstrokes, my work reflects an ongoing evolution. My early oil paintings capture objects—often inspired by photographs from my travels—but they aim to do more than depict a place. I want to transport the viewer to a feeling, a moment suspended in time.
Meet JoAnne and learn more about her journey!