photo of Stephen Wright at home by Michael Vaughn
Beginning September 20, the internationally renowned immersive art environment Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) (1020-22 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147) presents a new exhibition curated by Exhibitions Manager Chelsey Luster, titled Walking Round My Head: Works by Stephen Wright. The exhibition features a collection of imaginative works by Stephen Wright, a London-based mixed-media artist, designer, and creator most known for his art environment, the “House of Dreams Museum.” In the exhibition, PMG showcases bright and colorful mixed-media portrait drawings, whimsical masks, intricate tapestries, and textile figures that combine elements from Wright’s traditional design background and the abstract art environment he created.
In 1998, inspired by TV programs on outsider art, Stephen Wright left his career as a fashion designer to focus on an ambitious new project: the “House of Dreams Museum,” located in his home and garden in East Dulwich, London. Since then, Wright has transformed his home into a vast, immersive artwork, decorating the walls with thousands of personal items and repurposed objects found at flea markets. Walking Round My Head is, in many ways, an extension of the “House of Dreams Museum” and a reflection of Wright himself. His creative practice reaches beyond the house, exploring daily life through mixed-media artworks that connect to themes of love, loss, and the human experience with all its laughter and tragedy.
The exhibition at PMG illustrates how Wright’s creative process starts with drawings of imaginative creatures, reflecting his daily interactions and thoughts. Building on these sketches, Wright brings his visions to life with bright, painted masks and figures that resemble animals, people, and fantastical beings. He views many of these figures as healing entities and uses a combination of fabrics, beads, dyed textiles, and found objects to create intricate, playful artworks that spark the viewer’s imagination.
Walking Round My Head also features Wright’s handwritten memory boards that capture significant and mundane moments of his life. The boards offer playfully written texts against acrylic-painted backdrops containing the artist’s thoughts, musings, and memories, with some including the dates they were made. Similar to Isaiah Zagar, Wright bridges the familiar with the fabulous, challenging traditional art forms and provides fresh ways to interpret and appreciate the complexities of daily life.
“The House of Dreams” began as a collaborative project with Wright’s partner Donald Jones, who worked for a few years alongside the artist until he became ill and passed away in 2004. Shortly after, both of Wright’s parents passed away as well. The house became a space for Wright to process his grief. He combines mementos from his deceased loved ones with found objects to adorn the walls, floors, and garden, creating a personal diary of transformative memories and daily reflections. Every surface, inside and out, is covered with an eclectic mix of items, including false teeth, old dolls, bottle caps, and wigs. The house is constantly evolving as visitors bring objects and stories of their loved ones to decorate the walls of Wright’s house.
Stephen Wright earned a Bachelor of Fine Art in Printed Textiles from Liverpool Polytechnic and a Master of Art from Manchester University. After graduating, Wright started his fashion label, designing and producing printed textile collections. From 1985 to 1995, he designed and produced products for his stationary company, exporting to the USA, Australia, Japan, Scandinavia, and Europe. Wright began work on “House of Dreams Museum” in 1998 and opened it to the public in 2010. With the support and encouragement of his husband, Michael Vaughan, Wright shares the deep themes of love, loss, and human experience encapsulated in the “House of Dreams” with the world.
On Friday, September 20, from 6 to 9 p.m., PMG hosts a special opening reception for Walking Round My Head, which includes special pay-what-you-wish admission and extended visiting hours. Wright will also lead a Tour & Talk on September 24, where he’ll take visitors on an intimate, guided walkthrough of the exhibition and share more about his inspirations, methods, and life story. The tour is followed by a Q&A session, where copies of Wright’s “House of Dreams” book will also be available for purchase. All the works featured in Walking Round My Head are available for purchase at PMG or on its website, with prices starting at $50.
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is open year-round, Wednesday to Monday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission to the gardens range from $8 to $15, with discounts available to select groups. Access to exhibitions displayed in PMG’s galleries is free with admission. Learn more at http://www.phillymagicgardens.org.
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