Jewel Box

Allen Street Gallery is pleased to present Jewel Box, an exhibition exploring the sculptural and functional poetry of the wall sconce. Curated by Leroy Street Studio Interiors, this show examines how these architectural elements transcend their utilitarian origins to become compelling works of art in their own right.

Throughout history, sconces have served as more than mere light fixtures—they are spatial waypoints, sculptural landmarks, and intimate architectural gestures that respond to human scale. Jewel Box celebrates this often-overlooked lighting typology through a carefully curated selection of pieces that blur the boundary between functional design and fine art.

The exhibition showcases works that perform a dual role: serving as striking sculptural elements during daylight hours while transforming into sources of decorative illumination after dark. Featured pieces employ a diverse material palette—including glass, paper, ceramic, metal, wood, and plastic—each medium offering unique possibilities for interaction between light and matter.

This survey grows from Leroy Street Studio’s long-standing fascination with integrated architectural lighting. Rather than relegating light fixtures to invisible functionality, the exhibited works embrace their potential as focal points and spatial anchors. Each piece demonstrates how thoughtful lighting design can enhance architectural narratives while creating moments of visual poetry within interior spaces.