April 28, 2026—June 27, 2026 | Reception May 16th, 4-6PM

James Harris Gallery is pleased to present Ghost Stories, a two-person exhibition featuring the work of Brooklyn-based artist Ronald Hall and El Paso-based artist Freddy Ortega. Through richly layered narrative paintings, both artists construct otherworldly spaces where figures grapple with the complexities of past, present, and future. The exhibition explores how personal and collective histories shape contemporary identity, revealing how echoes of the past continue to haunt and reverberate in the present.

Ghost Stories highlights each artist’s engagement with historical memory, drawing attention to the tension embedded within the historical record. Hall and Ortega create unsettling juxtapositions that invite viewers into complex visual narratives, where moments of dislocation and ambiguity give rise to deeper reflection. In many ways, their work recalls the tradition of Romantic “history painting,” yet replaces classical subject matter with urgent contemporary concerns.

Download the press release