My Palace in Dallas – Katherine Stephens
“Solitude requires you to move past reacting to information created by other people and focus instead on your own thoughts and experiences – wherever you happened to be”
Hello folks, HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2023 has been nothing but a wild rollercoaster ride for me and 2024 is about to be so great for all of us I can just FEEL IT! If you’re reading this I hope you are as excited for what’s to come your way and enjoying everything that is around you — People and space alike, especially your home. Has your space changed since last year? Did it feel more like home to you?
I started My Palace in Dallas during the height of the pandemic, and it was born from pure curiosity: I want to know, I want to see, and, most importantly, I want to document what the people around me have become after these unprecedented years. They can be artists, comedians, or they can also be the people you meet on the street—which is quite hard cause supposedly people in Dallas don’t walk at all. So, what is it that they do? This project delves into their stories and, as the name suggests, explores their Palace in Dallas.
Without further ado, allow me to introduce you to Katherine Stephens. She is the Director of Hospitality and Art Curator for Le Sol, a gentle soul, and an incredible art lover and moderator. I met her last year at an artist talk and was blown away by her interview skills as well as her genuine love for art. How did we start talking? I took a fat tequila shot and approached her of course. In true Dallas fashion, we start running into each other a lot in galleries and at events. What better way to let her tell all about her story than sipping some coffee together at her cozy and beautiful home that holds great meaning to her?
Hello Katherine! Thank you so much for sitting down with me today. Before I bomb you with questions, could you tell me who are you and what is it that you do?
Hello! I’m Katherine Stephens (a lot of people call me Kat too), and I’ve lived in Dallas for just over a year, but I’m going on my sixth year in DFW. I was born and raised in El Paso Texas – a proud 6th generation El Pasoan – then ventured up to Boston for college, and then had the opportunity to move to some pretty wonderful places over the next five years: Italy, London, and then back to the states to Houston, Marfa, Fort Worth, and now Dallas. I studied and worked in the art world for about 8 years and am now the Director of Hospitality and Art Curator for Le Sol.
You have a way with words and attention which shone through during our casual conversations especially when you moderate artist talks for LeSol. Could you tell me what that journey was for you navigating through your craft and discovering your love for art? How did you get to where you are now?
I’ve always been an adventurous person. I had a wonderful 18 years growing up in El Paso, and I love that city dearly, but after high school, I was ready for somewhere very different. This mindset stayed with me and led me from one adventure to another throughout my 20s. I enjoyed picking everything up and moving to new places, and I’ve been greatly impacted by each place I’ve lived.
From a young age, English Literature and History were my favorite subjects. I found out early on that I am not a math and science girl *laughs. The stories in history, literature, and art are what fascinate and inspire me. I’ve reflected on this more recently too, but I was a really shy person going into college. Soft-spoken and introverted. I definitely had not found my voice, or enough of it for me to be comfortable in certain conversations or public speaking. College pushed and stretched me to use my voice. I had to lead a debate at one point and had a major public speaking role, and that was pivotal for me. “Wow, I really enjoy this” was what I thought to myself. When I prepare and understand the subject and material enough, I really enjoy speaking to others about it, sharing, and educating, which was something I didn’t fully know about myself until facing these challenges. I definitely see this show up now when I moderate talks or lead guided experiences for people.
I studied abroad in Italy during my junior year of college in a small town called Orvieto, which is about an hour and a half north of Rome. It was a studio art and art history program, and this was when I really discovered how much I loved the combination of history and the visual arts – how humans think about and react to the moments around them through artistic expression. After graduating college, I had the opportunity to go back and work for this program and lived in Italy for a year. That really solidified my love for art history and set me on a new path.
Then I found out about this program in London – an intensive 5-month course studying the history of museums, galleries, and curating. So off I went from Italy to London! I absolutely fell in love with London, and I would’ve stayed if I could have afforded it at the time, but I was too young and it’s an expensive city. *laughs. The program itself was incredible. Every day of the week our class went to galleries or museums throughout the city and met with curators, registrars, and educators and learned about museum departments and what it means to care for and curate a collection. It inspired me to pursue work in museums, specifically curating, but I knew I needed to get my Master's in Art History first, and this led me to grad school at the University of Houston.
Coming back to Texas after living abroad was definitely a transition and felt a bit like giving up on more exciting adventures or opportunities elsewhere, so I went through a bit of an existential moment for a minute *laughs, but in-state tuition was too good to pass up, and I had the best experience in Houston. It was 100% the right decision.
It totally surprised me how much I loved Houston, which I think I can say about almost every city I’ve lived in. It’s fun to let places surprise you. I lived downtown the first year in a cute little studio apartment and would bike to campus. During the second year, I did a curatorial fellowship at the Menil Collection and volunteered at the Rothko Chapel. My fellowship at the Menil actually inspired my grad school thesis, so it was amazing to be so immersed in that museum and collection for a year. You HAVE to visit the Menil and Rothko Chapel if you visit Houston. They truly are two of the most special art destinations in Texas.
While I was in the middle of job hunting post grad school, I ended up getting a fellowship at the Judd Foundation in Marfa, Texas, another incredibly special art destination in Texas, so OFF SHE GOES AGAIN *laughs and I moved to Marfa.
I was fairly familiar with Marfa since it’s only three hours away from El Paso, and I was so happy to be back in the desert southwest with those expansive views. I think it’s where I feel most at home and free, which sounds so cheesy, but it’s true. I was there for 6 months doing an archival fellowship with the Judd Foundation.
I also gave tours of Donald Judd’s spaces to visitors from all around the world, and those tours were another pivotal moment I look back on. I love talking to people about art – sharing the story of art in a way that makes it accessible and approachable. It can be an intimidating subject, especially modern art, but I fully believe art changes us if we let it. People just need the encouragement and an entry point to help them look and think about it in different ways. When we let ourselves do this, we can have transformational, life-altering experiences with art. I do love it though when people approach certain art with skepticism, especially modern, more abstract art. Those moments excite me because there’s this sense of possibility of what’s on the other side of that skepticism once they know more of the story behind the art and artist.
I ended up applying for a position at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth while I was in Marfa. I had never been to Fort Worth before, but I got the job and moved there in December 2018 to be the curatorial assistant for the Deputy Director and Chief Curator, and I was there for the next three and a half years.
Those years in Fort Worth and the community I made there were very special and formative. It definitely has a small town feel, so I got connected to some wonderful people early on. I met a lot of inspiring entrepreneurs like Esther Miller who started Gifted, Jonathan Morris who owns Hotel Dryce, Katherine Morris of Cherry Coffee, and others. This energy was contagious. I also got to work on some really special exhibitions at the Kimbell, including Monet: The Late Years and Renoir: The Body and The Senses, both in 2019. Then 2020 happened, and looking back, I see how Fort Worth was exactly where God wanted me to be during such a wild time in the world. I spent a ton of time walking the Trinity River *laughs and got closer to some great people, and was fortunate enough to have my job throughout it all.
After a few years in Fort Worth, I felt like I’d reached a certain plateau in terms of job growth, and I also wanted to explore my own business idea called Kurio – intimate guided art experiences in DFW and elsewhere. I’ve been able to plan and lead a few experiences for groups, like an art and food focused trip to Houston and guided museum visits, but there’s definitely more I want to do with it.
I left the Kimbell without a job lined up, which was definitely scary, but then came Le Sol. I had been friends with Taylor Madison, the founder, since 2020, but I first came to Le Sol House (one of our membership houses) in fall 2019 for a house party. DJ Sober was playing in the garage, which is now one of our wellness studios *laughs, but back then it was just Taylor’s house and it felt like 100 people were dancing in her garage. During the pandemic, when everything shut down, she had the time to envision what her home could become, so by the time I left the Kimbell she had already launched some of the wellness programming, hosted some events, and made her kitchen into a little café. She asked me if I wanted to come and help out, so I started working there a few days a week, and wow, both Le Sol and I have grown so much since then.
Taylor has been incredibly generous with the team and let us explore our ideas for the space and step into this journey of a growing business with her, which has been so rewarding and exciting to be a part of. I took over planning a lot of our events, helped launch our memberships in November 2022, and have also curated some special art shows from the space.
Ruben’s show, last February (where you and I met!), was a special moment for me because it was the first more extensive show I curated and led an artist talk for. I’d followed him for a few years and loved his work, but we were officially introduced through Breda. He came to Dallas with two suitcases filled with his pieces and we got to work hanging a very unique, beautiful show throughout Le Sol House. And for each show we do, I host an artist talk, not only because it sheds light on the artist’s practice and intention, but also because it makes the art more accessible from a collecting standpoint as well.
So, a full circle moment, but it has been very rewarding to be able to pursue my passion for curating and creating space for dialogue and education around art and art making in my current position. It’s what I love.
Like how you’d be curious about their letterbox account when you meet a film fanatic, can you tell me what consists of your media outlet and where do y’all usually get your inspiration from?
As you can see sitting in my apartment, I love to read. There’s another bookshelf in my bedroom too. That love for books came early on when I was a kid. I grew up in a home filled with books and we read a lot as a family, which was actually what inspired me to go into college as an English major. After grad school, it took me a few years to get back into reading for fun, but I’m definitely back into a better rhythm with it.
I also love movies. Big A24 girl, big NEON girl. I even went through a phase where I watched a lot of Criterion Collection films too. I’ve always loved going to the movie theater, but now I go even more since I live so close to the Texas Theater too. I would watch almost anything, but I am often drawn to darker, psychological films that leave you a bit unsettled after. Even with art too. I want to see something that will make me think or feel something after viewing it. But balance is important. I love a good rom-com too. *laughs
Circling back to a few pivoting points in life that led you to this point, whether it’s time in Italy, London, or after working in a museum in Fort Worth, have you noticed any changes in your media diet that you incorporated intentionally that stayed?
That’s a really good question. This has always been something I do, but now that I work in a job where there are lots of meetings, events, and daily interactions with people, I need and crave solo time to recharge. I love to come home, put my phone on “do not disturb” and try to let myself get lost in something - a new book, show, movie, podcast, or album.
I do go down random rabbit holes, like a history podcast on the JFK assassination *laughs. Actually, I went down a full rabbit hole journey with that and all the conspiracies around it. Anyway, these moments are a needed form of escape – getting lost in some subject or topic or story I find interesting. This has always been a part of what I do, but recently I’ve been noticing it’s what I need to then go back to my daily life or work feeling refreshed.
It’s been three years since the pandemic hit and I am always in awe at how people here rose up and did many incredible things during and after. What did you do to stay centered and sane? Did any of those new habits carry over now that things are kinda back to normal?
I’ll start by saying I am very comfortable being on my own. I think I’m an ambivert – 50/50 introvert and extrovert – but I do think from COVID-19 till now, the time spent with myself has been very special and formative. I enjoy going on walks alone, exploring by myself, going on long drives, trying out new vintage stores and coffee shops. I love doing those things with people too, but having those moments alone is very rewarding. Making my home space cozy, re-organizing things, cleaning, and hanging artwork. I started doing a lot more of this “nesting” during COVID-19 and it definitely carried over to now. But my top love language is quality time, so that one-on-one time with people I love is also huge, during COVID-19, I was able to have that with a few people, and it got me through it, honestly.
As an incredible curator and historian who worked on guides, shows, and events that transcend geographical boundaries yet are so close to our daily lives, I’m sure you have your fair share of traveling experience and exposure to different scenes across different cities. What do you think sets Dallas apart from all the other huge hubs like NY, LA, or other cities you’ve been to?
As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve loved seeing how the places I’ve lived over the years surprise me, and living in the Texas cities I’ve lived in has made me appreciate the state so much more. There is just so much here culturally, and the arts in Texas are pretty incredible. I am so grateful for El Paso and the moves to Houston, Marfa, Fort Worth, and Dallas because they have all shown me how much Texas has to offer.
Dallas has an impressive contemporary arts, design, and collecting scene. There are a lot of collectors here in Dallas, and I think that sets it apart from other cities in Texas. Dallas has the money for a good collector base and many people here have the budget and are interested in collecting, which is one of the reasons why the Dallas Art Fair exists. The presence of artists working and being represented by galleries, along with the art fair, gives the city an exciting energy; and there is room for everyone – artists, curators, gallery owners, collectors – to explore and stand out, which feels different than LA and New York.
Are you a Dallas native? As someone like you living in this city, having spent quite some time finding your creative identity, and building up a place you call home, what do you think of this city?
I love Dallas. I really do. My dad was born and raised here, and I still have family here. When I lived in Fort Worth, I was already coming to Dallas pretty often and had started to form a community here as well, so when I decided it was time to move, Dallas felt like the right amount of newness and adventure that I needed without being a total uprooting. Fully uprooting your life does get a bit harder as we get older *laughs.
But I’m happy here, and I can see myself being here for a while. I’m still very much an adventurous person, so if there is an opportunity to go somewhere else, I’m open to it, but for now, I’m loving being in this city and calling it home.
And what makes this city even more like home to me, is this apartment. It was built in the 1920s, which I love. I’ve never lived in a newer apartment, and I don't think I would ever want to, because I care too much about the character and the story of the place. But of all the places I’ve lived, this might be my favorite, which is a big statement because I’ve loved all my different homes. This one just feels like Katherine. In a way, I feel like I’ve reached a point where I am most at home with myself, thanks to a lot of personal growth over the past 5 years, and I think that is reflected in this space.
As I look around, I can see a lot of your taste in a tangible form! I can’t even begin picking out a favorite one so now the hard part is, what would you say is your most prized possession?
I know the answer right away. It’s the rug you’re standing on. It belonged to my great-great-grandparents, Bernard and Amelia Schuster, and it’s from the late 1800s, so it is extremely meaningful to me. This was in their home, my great-grandparent's home, my grandparent's home, and my childhood home. Now it’s in my home! Considering it’s from the late 1800s it’s in very good shape, but I love the faded areas by the side. And thank God it ended up fitting in this apartment perfectly.
I’m a sucker for open shelves so that was one of my favorite features. A lot of my favorite things displayed there are dishes and cups that were given to me after my grandparents passed away. A lot of my glassware was from my grandmother, and the china up on the top shelf was from my great-grandmother who actually lived here in Dallas. It’s very special to me, and I was able to incorporate it into my home for the first time last year.
This mug that I’m holding is meaningful to me too. I got it in Old Mesilla, New Mexico, which is just north of El Paso, in high school. I love collecting mugs and I’m a big coffee drinker. I love this mug too, it was made by Kendall Davis after she did a residency in Marfa.
I’m proud of this TV stand/bookshelf. When I first moved to Fort Worth I was trying to be frugal about new furniture and could not afford a TV console, so I went to Home Depot after seeing this idea on Pinterest and got all of the materials. I loved the industrial look of it; it resembles Donald Judd’s minimalist furniture, and I had just come from Marfa. I didn’t even cut the wood or varnish it, and it worked out perfectly with the way it can hold all my books too.
I’ve mentioned I’m a huge reader, and I love collecting books. My book collection continues to the bedroom, and I kind of categorize them into non-fiction, fiction, art history, religion, poetry, and so on. They all have their place on my shelves. It is extremely hard to pick my top five books, but these have shaped me a lot: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, any Mary Oliver poem, and Alice Waters’ memoir, Coming to My Senses.
The art piece above the bed was a special piece I got from Orvieto, Italy during my last semester working there. It’s the skyline of the town.
These are the prints passed down from my parents by a famous El Paso artist Tom Lea, and I just love how they capture the southwest – Texas and New Mexican landscapes.
This is a print by Jamie Beck, I started following her back in 2012 during the peak blogging era. During COVID-19 in 2020 she started an isolation series at her home in Provence, France, and she would create a different still life and photograph it every day. They reminded me of the Dutch Golden Age and Renaissance still lifes. She did this one on day 79. Crazy story, but I ended up actually meeting and running into Jamie a couple of years later at a coffee shop in Fort Worth and now we are friends! So wild.
And we are almost at the bottom of my list of Qs for today! I have one more before wrapping it up! For those who are interested in getting into this field or starting something of their own. What suggestions or advice would you give them or is there anything you wish you’d known sooner?
For those interested in working in the museum world, there are multiple avenues you can look into that provide you with great experience within the industry. From event programming, curating, membership development, and art handling to collection management and education. I’d recommend getting your foot in the door in some way, like an internship, and once you’re in, explore and learn as much as you can about each department and where you see yourself.
With art curating in particular, there are so many different ways now to find spaces and curate a show and connect with artists. You don’t have to be in a museum or gallery. You could start in your home, honestly, and curate shows like Salons in the 1800s. Bring on young, emerging artists who just want their art to be seen by anyone. I went into it thinking that the museum was the path I needed to take, and it is a longer journey to get to the point where you can curate in a museum.
Now that I have the opportunity to actually curate shows, I feel more inspired and know I enjoy working with artists at a certain level of their career, and Le Sol is such a unique, non-typical space to do that in, which is fun. I could definitely see myself opening up my own gallery or working in a commercial gallery space too one day.
Final thought, also because I am curious personally, what’s on the horizon for you? Are there any “Big things coming” in the works for you? What are you excited for the world (whichever random soul stumbled upon this article) to know about?
Well at Le Sol, we are starting an artist residency this year with the wonderful Dallas artist, Kyle Steed. The garage at our property Château Le Sol will be transformed into an art studio, and he’ll begin using it mid-late April to create some new work. The residency will last about two months and end with a show in June that I will be curating. Starting a residency is so aligned with what I care about and what Le Sol as a brand is interested in, so I’m excited I have the opportunity to start this here.
I’ll be creating and leading all of the art experiences for our upcoming London and Paris group trips for Le Sol Travel this May and June too, so I’m very much looking forward to that, as well as doing more personal travel this year.
This year already has a new, refreshing energy, and I’m excited to continue developing personal projects with Kurio – hosting and curating some private experiences on a request basis – and I also want to work on being an art advisor for friends or anyone in my community who is interested in collecting and needs guidance on where and how to start.
So I’m excited for all that’s coming, and when life gets stressful and crazy sometimes, I just have to remind myself how blessed I am to be able to pursue ideas and work that energizes me and aligns with so much of what I’ve cared about in life for so long.
James Kung : https://www.instagram.com/j_kung/
Katherine Stephens: https://www.instagram.com/kat.adele/
