Through the Lens of Light: Lyall Aston’s First Miami Solo Exhibition
- Staff
- Sep 21
- 4 min read
Dolly and Oz Presents Unveils Lyall Aston’s Luminous New Work Exploring Memory, Identity, and Shifting Modern Landscapes
Miami Beach prepares to welcome an exhibition that promises to leave an indelible mark on the fall art season. Starting October 8th 2025, Dolly and Oz Presents will host “Here You Go,” the first solo exhibition in Miami by internationally acclaimed photographer Lyall Aston. Known for his masterful orchestration of light and shadow, Aston unveils a collection that balances the personal with the universal, drawing audiences into a world where past and present are blurred by both memory and cultural immediacy.
A Journey Sculpted in Light
Aston’s creative journey began with a childhood shaped by continents. Raised across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America, he describes light as his first language, one that expanded with technology as he transitioned from analog to digital photography. Today, he splits his time between Miami and New York, cities that infuse his work with energy, fluidity and a cross-cultural aesthetic. In “Here You Go,” this global perspective becomes deeply intimate, as he allows the viewer to step inside an unfolding dialogue with selfhood, identity and fleeting experience.
“This exhibition represents my personal journey through a time of rapid change,” Aston explains. “Each piece is a different conversation with myself.” His description fits the rhythm of the show, which veers from softness to confrontation, meditation to immediacy, reflection to raw emotional edge.
The Works Within
The exhibition features more than 15 new works, each charged with Aston’s distinctive interplay of illumination and shadow. Yet it also brings forward selections from earlier collections, offering a broader perspective into the artist’s evolving vision.
The Post Chaste series adds tension and drama through black-and-white explorations of spirituality and sensuality. Images like “Benedictions of the Unholy” and “Veils of Dissent” question long-held binaries, creating photographs that simultaneously reveal and conceal.
The Sea Inside delivers dreamlike sequences that sway between waking reality and subconscious wandering. Photographs titled “Liminal Space,” “Insomniac’s Ebb,” and “Fugue State” evoke intangible boundaries, capturing moments of uncertainty where the body feels adrift within shifting environments.
Anchoring these intimate explorations is “All the King’s Men,” Aston’s documentary-style homage to the ceremonial traditions of London’s King’s Guard. The work’s precise lensing and editorial polish remind viewers of Aston’s versatility, stepping seamlessly between fine art, narrative photography and visual documentation.
A Gallery with Purpose
Founded in 2022, Dolly and Oz Presents has quickly established itself as a vital platform for voices that expand the dialogue around contemporary art. By spotlighting underrepresented perspectives and foregrounding emotional resonance, the gallery seeks to reach both seasoned collectors and new audiences. Its South Beach space functions as both exhibition venue and cultural hub, hosting performances, conversations, and programming designed to foster community engagement.
For “Here You Go,” the gallery has curated a schedule that reflects its mission of accessibility and connection. The public is invited to an opening reception on October 8 from 6 to 9 p.m., where Aston will meet visitors and discuss the work in person. A special edition of Wine Down Sunday on October 19 will feature an artist talk, offering an intimate view into his creative process, as well as the personal evolution that has shaped this landmark collection.
An Invitation to Reflect
Aston’s exhibition does not merely present photographs to view; it creates a layered environment where visual art becomes a prompt for introspection. Each image feels like a note in a personal diary, yet one that resonates far beyond the individual. In a time when cultural attention is fleeting and digital platforms consume much of modern storytelling, Aston challenges his audience to pause, to absorb light as a living language, and to consider the ways images shape and are shaped by inner reflection.
By linking the deeply personal with broader cultural narratives, “Here You Go” positions Aston at an important juncture in contemporary photography. The show reflects his mastery of technical craft while also embodying a search for meaning that transcends borders and generations. For Miami, it is both a celebration and an invitation, opening a season where art asks viewers not only to look, but to listen with their eyes.
Lyall Aston's First Miami Solo Exhibition
The exhibition will be on view beginning October 8, 2025, with an opening reception from 6-9 p.m. “Here You Go” will remain on view through November 16, 2025, at Dolly and Oz Presents, located at 715 Fifth Street in Miami Beach. Gallery hours run Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., with private appointments available upon request.
For more on Lyall Aston, follow him on Instagram.
About Dolly and Oz Presents The founder of Dolly and Oz Presents is Felicia Frazier. She established the gallery in South Beach, Miami, drawing inspiration from her parents, whose names inspired the gallery’s name—Dolly and Oz.
Since opening its doors in 2022, Dolly and Oz Presents has become a vibrant cultural anchor in South Beach, showcasing distinctive contemporary art that amplifies bold voices and challenges conventional narratives. The gallery is dedicated to creating space for emerging and underrepresented artists, presenting exhibitions and performances that engage with the social, emotional and cultural dimensions of our time. Committed to accessibility and transparency, the gallery publishes artwork pricing openly and extends the art experience beyond its walls through “Canvas Stories,” a recurring series on YouTube where artists share insight into their creative journeys. More than just a gallery, Dolly and Oz is a hub for dialogue, connection and discovery, inviting the community into an authentic and inclusive art experience.
For details, visit dollyandozpresents.com and follow @dollyandozpresents on Instagram.