We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stephanie Maynard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Stephanie , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
It didn’t arrive all at once, like lightning. It came quietly, the way late afternoon light shifts across a wall. When my daughter left for college, I suddenly found myself in a new city, surrounded by silence and space. That openness became an invitation: to follow what I love, to let art and light show me the way.
I have always been captivated by how light transforms things. How it softens a room, sharpens a detail, or makes a painting feel alive. Creating a gallery felt like the natural extension of that obsession. A space that could be both invitation and conversation. A place where what moves me might also move others.
So where did my purpose come from? From listening to that quiet pull of art, light, and beauty, and trusting that following them would lead somewhere true. A second act, a new city, a fresh beginning. And in the end, it turned out to be exactly where I was meant to land.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I run Illumine Gallery in Palm Springs, a contemporary art space devoted to work that feels alive in light and spirit. For me, it is a second act. When my daughter left for college, I moved to a new city and began again. What started as a quiet obsession with light and art — the way light transforms a painting, the way art transforms a room — became the foundation for Illumine.
The gallery is located in the Uptown Design District, surrounded by architecture, design, and community. I curate with an emphasis on texture, minimalism, and presence. My hope is that the work does more than decorate a space. I want it to shift the way you experience that space. What excites me most is the dialogue that unfolds here: between artist and collector, between the work and the way it inhabits a home, between visitors who arrive as strangers and leave feeling connected.
This fall, we are presenting new work from Dierdre Patterson, John Flores, Laura Browning, Jeremy Prim, Kate Hooray Osmond, Alexandra Squire, Anita Kucharczyk, Scott Troxel, and John Kluchka. Each artist brings a distinct voice and vision, and together their exhibitions shape our programming during Modernism Week, one of Palm Springs’ most vibrant cultural moments. On October 17, from 5–7 PM, we will host an artist reception to welcome the community into the gallery and experience these works firsthand.
Illumine is more than a gallery. It is a conversation. It is a platform for artists, an experience for collectors, and a space that reflects the spirit of this city: modern, timeless, and full of light.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, three qualities have shaped my path more than anything else.
The first is openness. Moving to a new city and beginning again taught me to pay attention to what draws me in, even if it feels uncertain. Illumine grew from following small curiosities about light, art, and space, and allowing them to unfold into something larger.
The second is resilience. A gallery has its seasons. There are quiet days, unexpected hurdles, and moments of doubt. Resilience is what carries you through the quieter times so you can step into the brighter ones with energy and joy.
The third is connection. None of this matters without artists, collectors, and community. The relationships formed around art are what give it power. Listening, showing up, and creating space for others is what makes the work lasting.
For anyone at the beginning of their journey, I would say this: practice those three qualities every day. Stay open to what excites you, even if it seems small. Build resilience by seeing setbacks as part of the process, not as failures. And invest in genuine connections. Purpose rarely arrives alone. It grows in conversation, collaboration, and community.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I have been fortunate to have both personal and professional guides along the way. My daughter has been one of my greatest teachers. Her independence gave me the courage to step into a second act and create something of my own. My wife has been a steady source of encouragement and perspective, reminding me that resilience comes from leaning into both the beautiful moments and the difficult ones.
I have also learned so much from the artists I work with. Watching them navigate the vulnerability of putting their work into the world has taught me about trust, persistence, and the strength of showing up authentically. That is knowledge you cannot find in a book. It comes only from being in relationship with people who live their purpose through their practice.
The truth is, no one builds something meaningful alone. Illumine itself was born out of community, and I carry that lesson with me every day.
Illumine Gallery: Art that moves you. Light that stays.
Contact Info:
- Website: Illuminegallery.com
- Instagram: @Illuminegalleryps
Image Credits
Water painting: Laura Browning
Artist arranging paintings: Dierdre Patterson
Geometric Dot paintings in gallery: Angela Johal
Acrylic blocks: Alexandra Squire
Rainbow sculpture: Stephanie & Michele Maynard at “Lover’s Rainbow by Pia Camil, Desert X
Orange sculpture: Stephanie Maynard at “Specter” by @sterlingruby, Desert X
Linescapes painting: Jeremy Prim
Wall Sculpture: Scott Troxel
