Gleam came to be from a tiny little dream of having a studio space and an art gallery for my friends and I to display our pieces.

I knew that social media and photos did not do justice for the beauty of any artwork. After we create our pieces, they are meant to be experienced! Not swiped through or scrolled past. With that being said, the dream started when I experienced the Neighbor’s Art Show in downtown Conway, AR. They have this show every fall and I attended the first year I became an “artist” in 2023. God called me to quit my job as a hairstylist and He is so faithful to provide something that brought fulfillment and purpose, like never before. I had only been an “artist” selling artwork for 6 months, when I entered into this show and it was the best experience I’ve ever had in any job/career part of my life. I had zero expectations of winning anything. I just felt so honored to have artwork hanging next to so many amazing artists' pieces. My husband had the most faith in me and started recording the award ceremony. I was so embarrassed because I was just sure I hadn’t won anything! The last award, The People’s Choice Award, is announced and they say my name!! I was speechless and so thankful for my husband to be recording such an amazing moment. It might seem little to most but that is what kickstarted my dream of having an art gallery and for others to experience the talent and gifts that God has blessed so many with. The gift is not the ability or the money that comes from selling but what happens during creation. For me, it’s a way of healing and worshiping God.

God brought me to this place, Pickles Gap Village, and said what I thought was a “no,” but was just “wait.” Three times before. When I was a hairstylist, I wanted a salon here. Then several artists got together and tried to make an art gallery run by a collective of artists. I was in a tiny studio and thought I was supposed to stay in downtown, but kept running into one wall after another. I love downtown Conway so much, but my little studio was what I could get on my own. & THIS. Gleam Art Gallery is what God has given me. I was at a breaking point, willing to move my studio back home. That willingness, praying with my hands wide open for whatever God had for me is what did it. There are so many things that have just fallen into place after Gleam came to be. We had no idea what this was, until we moved in and started renovating the building. The name means “to shine brightly, especially with reflected light.”
“...shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life...”
Philippians 2:15-16