What Is Dreams On Command?

Dreams On Command (DOC) is a contemporary art gallery in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. For many years, the space existed strictly as a photography and filmmaking rental studio, hosting photographers, filmmakers, musicians, and content creators from all over New York City. People often came to the studio because we offered immersive projector technology paired with professional lighting equipment that allowed artists to transform the environment around them.

For two years, that was our world. And it was beautiful.

But after constantly being surrounded by artists and creative experimentation, something became increasingly clear to us: we had a storefront space in one of the most creatively alive neighborhoods in Brooklyn, yet the doors were mostly closed to the public. As artists ourselves, that eventually stopped feeling right. It was time to open the damn doors.

Transforming into an art gallery wasn't easy. We wanted to create a space where people could walk in, slow down, and genuinely sit with artwork. A space where contemporary art could feel alive, confrontational, emotional, funny, uncomfortable, human, or even absurd. A space that encouraged reflection rather than passive consumption.

What Type Of Art Does DOC Show?

Opening a gallery was never simply about filling walls with aesthetically pleasing work.

It is deeply important to us that the work shown at DOC has something to say. Which means that our curation process is very specific, constructed, and evaluated.

One philosophy that strongly resonates with us comes from Pablo Picasso, who once described art as being more than decoration. It's an instrument of war. An attack and defense against the system. We believe contemporary art should challenge, confront, question, reveal, and reflect truths about the human condition and society. We don't want to just show "pretty pictures."

Does that mean the work we choose must be shocking, controversial, or overtly political? No. What matters to us is the artists emotional honesty and necessity.

Necessity is key to our curation. Can the artist tell us in one simple sentence why the artwork had to be made?

Whether it is an abstract painting exploring loneliness and depression, a photograph confronting misogyny, or a sculpture examining the struggles of a marginalized group, DOC is drawn toward work that carries genuine urgency and point of view.

How Does DOC Find Artists?

DOC primarily curates exhibitions by directly reaching out to artists whose work aligns with the gallery’s vision and curatorial direction. A significant amount of time is spent researching artists, visiting exhibitions, exploring portfolios, and engaging with contemporary work both online and in person.

Occasionally, DOC will announce limited open submissions as a way of discovering artists outside of our immediate network and creating additional opportunities for curatorial consideration. These submission periods are not ongoing and will only be opened periodically.

When open submissions are active, artists are reviewed directly by the gallery director. A small administrative fee helps support the time and care involved in reviewing each portfolio and body of work. DOC does not operate as a pay-to-play space. Artists selected for exhibitions are never asked to pay additional exhibition or wall-space fees. They agree to go into business with us, and we are in this together.

Why Collecting Art Matters

In an increasingly digital world, we believe neighborhoods still need physical cultural spaces. Places where people can slow down, encounter new ideas, experience human imagination in real life, and genuinely connect with artwork beyond a screen.

For us, that is one of the most important reasons DOC exists.

Supporting the gallery through collecting art not only supports the artists themselves, but also helps sustain an independent contemporary art space within Greenpoint. Every exhibition, installation, event, and body of work shown at DOC is made possible through the direct support of collectors and visitors who believe spaces like this should continue to exist.

Every artist represented by DOC has intentionally chosen to work with the gallery, and DOC is committed to supporting artists without operating as a pay-to-play space. Artists are never charged wall-space or exhibition fees in exchange for representation. Instead, the gallery survives through artwork sales, allowing both the artists and the gallery to continue growing together.

We believe collecting art should feel meaningful, personal, and human, not intimidating. Whether someone acquires a smaller edition as their first artwork or invests in a large-scale statement piece, every acquisition directly supports the artists, the gallery, and the continued presence of contemporary art within the neighborhood.

A Living Gallery

At the end of the day, DOC is not meant to feel intimidating, sterile, or disconnected from real life. We want people to walk in out of curiosity, spend time with the work, ask questions, bring friends back, discover artists they have never heard of, and experience contemporary art in a way that feels human and accessible.

Some visitors may deeply connect with a piece immediately. Others may leave confused, uncomfortable, inspired, or still thinking about the work hours later. We believe all of those reactions are valuable.

DOC is ultimately a living space for ideas, experimentation, conversation, emotion, humor, tension, and human imagination. As the gallery continues to grow, our hope is that it becomes a lasting cultural presence within Greenpoint. A place people return to not only to see artwork, but to genuinely experience something.

Thank you for being here. And don't forget...your presence completes the work.