This May, Robert Lange Studios presents Beyond Belief, an exhibition exploring the poetic territory where realism and imagination meet. Anchored by artists Erik Johnson and Robert Lange, the show gathers a diverse group of painters whose work navigates memory, symbolism, light, and the subtle psychological spaces between reality and dream.
Magical realism in painting often lives in quiet moments—an ordinary setting tinged with the uncanny, a figure caught between narrative and atmosphere, or a familiar landscape that feels just slightly altered. Beyond Belief brings together artists who engage this territory with sensitivity and imagination, revealing how small shifts in perspective can open portals to deeper emotional or symbolic meaning.
The exhibition is anchored by oil painters Erik Johnson and Robert Lange, two artists whose work exemplifies the quiet power of this genre. Their paintings balance precision with poetry, narrative with atmosphere, making them a natural foundation for the show. Johnson said of the exhibit, “Magical realism allows me to approach the ordinary world as if it’s holding a secret just beneath the surface. I’m interested in the moment when a familiar scene begins to feel charged with something mysterious.”
Surrounding Johnson and Lange is a compelling group of 12 other contemporary painters whose work expands the conversation, including Mae Read, Mia Bergeron, Patrick Kramer, and Scott Listfield. Through subtle symbolism, luminous light, and layered narrative, these artists explore themes of memory, perception, and the fragile line between the real and the imagined.
“For me, the magic isn’t about spectacle—it’s about subtlety. When a painting feels believable but slightly impossible, it invites the viewer to slow down and reconsider what they’re seeing,” says artist and gallery owner Robert Lange, who often paintings within the genera. “Magical realism sits in that space where observation and imagination overlap. I want my paintings to feel grounded in reality, but open enough that the viewer can project their own story into the scene.”
Some works evoke dreamlike stillness; others introduce symbolic elements that gently disrupt otherwise familiar scenes. Together, the paintings invite viewers into moments that feel both recognizable and strangely otherworldly—images that seem believable at first glance but gradually reveal deeper layers of meaning.
Rather than relying on spectacle, Beyond Belief embraces the quiet tension that defines magical realism. Each painting becomes a threshold between worlds, encouraging viewers to linger in the space where perception shifts and imagination begins. The full list of participating artists includes: Julie, Beck, Mia Bergeron, Patrick Nevins, Patrick Kramer, Larry Moore, Scott Listfield, Victor Grasso, Mae Read, Larisa Brechun, Cassandra Kim, Katie Koenig, and Emily Wolfson.
The opening reception will be held May 1 from 5–8 PM, welcoming the public to experience the exhibition and meet several of the participating artists.
Beyond Belief invites viewers to step into a world where the ordinary holds unexpected wonder—and where belief itself becomes something fluid, expansive, and open to possibility. The exhibit will be on view through most of May 2026, at Robert Lange Studios, 2 Queen Street, Charleston, SC. All works are available for purchase, and the exhibition can be previewed online at www.rlsart.com.
The gallery is open 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. everyday and by appointment.
