A small, unassuming storefront graces the bustling cobblestone of William Street. Art cards hang in the window, inviting visitors and customers to step inside. The space unfolds, revealing walls adorned with brightly painted artworks. Lifelike carved birds rest on tables, botanical shapes coexist with more representational images, all exuding a playful animation. The blue and black checkered floor guides one through the space, seamlessly tying together various themes into a cohesive gallery shop.
This is no sterile or whitewashed industrial space. It exudes warmth and welcome, mirroring the personality of the owner who opened its doors over nine years ago.
Alison Wells, a native of Trinidad, finds herself living and working in downtown New Bedford — an unexpected journey. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, she dreamt of becoming an artist from a young age, supported by her family and creative siblings. However, at the tender age of 13, a teacher’s discouragement led her to briefly study architecture as an adult, only to leave after a year. This time wasn’t in vain, as architectural elements and structure often find their way into the layers of her work.
Guided by instinct, she applied and was accepted at UMass Dartmouth to study fine art painting. In a transformative moment, she left everything behind and found herself in New England with no place to live and an uncertain future.
“When I look back, I couldn’t have seen the future, that this was going to be my second home. That I was going to be a part of this amazing community of artists and creative people,” she said. “So, it’s a testament that you sometimes do need to take a leap. You need to take a chance and not be too safe. I’ve grown so much.”
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Contact Alison and view the artist’s work.
Gallery location: 106 William St., New Bedford, MA 02740
Fueled by a determination to succeed and a business mindset, she allowed her path to unfold, equipped with the skills to navigate it. Shifting her perspective on what it meant to be an artist first and a business person second.
“I was trying to be practical as well because this is my dream; I’m going to make it happen,” Wells said. “Another thing I had to pivot and change was my thinking. Once I started to put on that business hat, I was seeing things in a different way. Because now I’m in a business space. I’m not just an artist.”
After 19 years, her business thrives despite the challenges of the past pandemic. She has amassed an impressive list of accomplishments and cultivated a strong support network. In 2021, she had her first solo exhibit at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, showcasing her new home through semi-abstract paintings, layered with acrylic paint, paper, and mixed media. Inspired by the city’s history of fishing, the tales of the Underground Railroad, and being the location of the first “free” home of Frederick Douglass, these narratives have found their way into her work.
Wells offers online courses and engages with a broad audience — a pivot during the Covid lockdown. Adopting a portfolio of skills to broadcast and produce online content, these efforts unexpectedly became a sustaining source of revenue and community building.
“The funny thing is that I have a group of people who are now in all different parts of the U.S., as well as internationally,” she said. “When I used to teach here in the gallery, it was usually people in the area. Now it’s branched out. I have a person from Australia, someone from the UK, someone from Scotland, all in my art membership. It’s just so wonderful that we could all communicate and talk and do art together. So that’s incredible and I’m grateful for that.”
The “Gratitude HeArt Journal” online teaching sessions evolved from a childhood practice of writing in a journal all the things she should be grateful for. This practice, taught by her mom, has become a thriving “side hustle” business that continues to help sustain her business and fuel personal growth.
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