The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Jonene Lee!

Who is Jonene Lee: Philadelphia-based curator and owner of No Name Gallery, with roots in photography, dance, and deep ties across the city’s music and arts community.

In our conversation, Jonene lays out how photography—documenting friends, parties, and performances—shaped her curatorial eye. She talks about organizing Philly DJ Day, uniting around 300 Philadelphia DJs for a single group photograph inspired by Gordon Parks. We get into her dance background and how that sense of rhythm and flow shows up in how she builds exhibitions and events. She also breaks down opening No Name Gallery in Chestnut Hill—learning business on the fly, tapping community support, and expanding the gallery’s role beyond a white-wall space to include urban, street, pop, abstract, and contemporary work, plus artist-made home furnishings.

At the center is connection: photos that turn into relationships, music that anchors the scene, and a gallery that serves both artists and neighborhood.

Be sure to check out No Name Gallery and explore the fantastic artists who are shaping the Philadelphia art scene. Visit NoNameGalleryPhilly.com for all the latest updates!

The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). 

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production: