The Distelheim Gallery was founded on a legacy that began in Chicago in the early 1960s. It carries forward a lineage shaped by renowned dermatologist and art aficionado Irving H. Distelheim, MD. His eye for modernism and commitment to artists helped define the Distelheim Galleries on Oak Street, where European influence and American expression could not only coexist but also thrive. 

Dr. Distelheim was instrumental in the development of Chicago’s Oak Street, in the heart of the Windy City’s Gold Coast, as a modern art corridor. He not only designed but led the development of the mid-century Hollywood Squares-like structure at 67 East Oak Street that became home not only to Distelheim Galleries but to a new generation of galleries that would help define the neighborhood’s artistic zeitgeist.

By the second quarter of the 21st century, Oak Street had evolved into a monument to luxury retail, the original facades of the buildings having given way to uniformly glass-fronted stores and salons. Sixty-seven East Oak Street was one of last remaining vestiges of its previous life. And then that too was slated for demolition, to be replaced with a replica of all of the other modern structures on the street. 

Today, the spirit of Distelheim Galleries finds new form through Dr. Distelheim’s daughter, award-winning broadcast journalist Lisa Distelheim Barron, who steps forward not simply to preserve what was but to build what comes next. 

With the establishment of the Distelheim Gallery, his legacy is not confined to brick and mortar. It lives in the art work, in the space where it is created, and in the conversations that surround it. It is a place where art comes to life in real time, where collectors are invited into the process, and where each piece carries not only its own visual language but also the weight of continuity of past, present, and future in dialogue. 

Distelheim Barron is undertaking this journey with her partner, creative consultant and artist Jefferey Cornett, who is also driven by a own profound sense of lived urgency in the wake of a Stage IV cancer diagnosis. Cornett says he

Today, the spirit of Distelheim Galleries finds new form through Dr. Distelheim’s daughter, award-winning broadcast journalist Lisa Distelheim Barron, who steps forward not simply to preserve what was but to build what comes next. 

With the establishment of the Distelheim Gallery, his legacy is not confined to brick and mortar. It lives in the art work, in the space where it is created, and in the conversations that surround it. It is a place where art comes to life in real time, where collectors are invited into the process, and where each piece carries not only its own visual language but also the weight of continuity of past, present, and future in dialogue. 

As you explore our collections, you are stepping into a larger artistic journey, one rooted in the belief that exceptional art should be both collectible at the highest level and accessible at many levels.  Not only should art command attention, but also it should create connection. 

Every collection begins with original large format masterworks, museum-scale pieces created through a combination of traditional artistic process, layered mixed media storytelling, and decades of creative experience. These are works created for collectors, institutions, luxury residences, executive offices, and those who understand that original art can become both a personal legacy and a long-term cultural asset.

But what makes The Distelheim Gallery™ unique is what happens next. Rather than allowing a masterwork to exist for only a handful of collectors, we extend its life through a carefully curated

The Orange and Black Collection

The Orange and Black Collection marks a defining moment for The Distelheim Callery. There is a certain electricity in these colors: bold, unmistakable, and deeply felt.

Orange radiates joy and warmth, while black absorbs all light to create a sense of power and elegance. Together, they represent a dynamic balance between vibrancy and mystery, as well as shadow and light.  

The combination also resonates deeply with Lisa Distelheim Barron as orange and black are the colors of her beloved alma mater Princeton University and have become life-long influences on everything from fashion to home décor.

Such is the case as well with the hundreds of thousands of highly engaged, loyal Princeton alums in countries around the world.

These works are not just visual statements; they are expressions of legacy reimagined through a contemporary lens.

 It is also important to note that this collection is not static. It is designed to evolve, continually growing with new works, fresh interpretations, and seasonal releases. The collection will include everything from limited edition pieces to note cards and wearables, offering unique ways to engage with it.

We are excited to share this energy with you.

Learn more about The Orange & Black Collection by clicking here

There are moments in an artist’s life when the work turns inward quieter, deeper, more reflective. The Blue Room Collection emerges from one of those moments.

If the Orange and Black Collection carries energy, contrast, and bold declaration, the Blue Room is something altogether different. It is where sound softens. Where color breathes. Where emotion is not announced, but revealed.

At its core, the Blue Room is an exploration of depth both visual and emotional. Built around a palette that moves through indigo, cobalt, midnight, and ash-blue tones, the work invites stillness. These are pieces that don’t compete for attention; they hold it. They reward time. They change depending on the light, the hour, and the state of mind you bring to them.

Conceptually, the collection is rooted in the idea of space a room not defined by walls, but by feeling. A place where memory, resilience, and reflection quietly intersect. In many ways, it represents a continuation of the Distelheim legacy through a more introspective lens: less about the external statement, more about internal resonance.

There is also a personal undercurrent running through the Blue Room. It reflects the act of creating while navigating uncertainty, of choosing presence over fear, and of finding clarity within constraint. The compositions often balance precision with imperfection clean lines interrupted by texture, controlled geometry softened by human touch, mirroring the tension between structure and vulnerability.

The American Spirit Collection begins with a simple but powerful idea: that the story of America is not owned by the well-known—it is carried, shaped, and advanced by those whose names are often left out.

Launching on July 4th, 2026, this year-long release is both an artistic journey and a cultural rediscovery. Each work in the collection is paired with a fully produced audio story—bringing to life the voices, struggles, and contributions of under recognized individuals who helped define the American experience. Through color, form, and narrative, these pieces don’t just depict history—they restore it.

The vision is intentionally expansive. This is not a static collection confined to walls it is designed to travel, speak, and engage.

As the series unfolds, The American Spirit Collection becomes a living platform: a touring exhibition, a podcast series, a storytelling movement. From intimate gallery salons to institutional spaces, from Chicago to Charleston and beyond, the collection is built to meet people where they are and invite them into something deeper.

What makes this collection especially compelling is its convergence of mediums and meaning. The artwork provides the emotional and visual anchor; the podcast delivers context, voice, and intimacy.

Together, they create a layered experience that is highly shareable, highly teachable, and increasingly valuable, culturally and commercially, as momentum builds throughout the year.

The Life Of Music Collection is a deeply personal, immersive body of work that translates a lifetime in music into visual art, sound, and story. Created by Jefferey Cornett, the collection draws from decades of professional experience as a songwriter, performer, and producer—capturing not just what music sounds like, but what it feels like to live inside it.

This is not a retrospective. It’s a transformation.

Each piece reflects moments that define a musical life—the quiet before a performance, the electricity of connection with an audience, the discipline behind the craft, the heartbreak, the triumph, the persistence. Through bold mixed media works, layered with rhythm, movement, and emotional tension, the collection becomes a visual composition, one that mirrors the structure of music itself.

Supported by original audio, spoken word, and curated soundscapes, The Life Of Music Collection extends beyond the canvas. It invites collectors and audiences into a multi-sensory experience, where

art is not only seen, but heard, remembered, and felt over time.

Launching in Fall 2026, the collection will debut through a series of intimate, invitation-only salon showings—designed to create a deeper, more meaningful connection between the work, the artist, and the audience.

A Very Cool and Compelling Collection

Because it’s built from a life, not just an idea.

Jefferey Cornett’s professional musical career isn’t just background—it’s the foundation. Years of writing, performing, producing, and interpreting music have shaped a creative instinct that understands pacing, dynamics, emotion, and storytelling at a visceral level. That instinct now lives inside each work, guiding how the pieces are composed visually, how they unfold emotionally, and how they connect with the viewer.

This collection doesn’t reference music, it behaves like it.

Where Art Lives Beyond the Wall

The Distelheim Gallery Store is an extension of our studio, our story, and our belief that art should not only be collected, but lived with.

While our large-format masterworks anchor the gallery, the store is where that same creative vision expands into a curated range of collectible and accessible pieces designed to meet collectors and admirers at every level.

Whether you are beginning your journey with us or adding to an established collection, the store offers something meaningful, personal, and enduring.

Here, each piece originates from the same source: the work itself. Every item—whether a print, a card, or a wearable carries the visual language, emotion, and authorship of the original art.

What You’ll Discover

Limited Edition Prints

Museum-quality reproductions drawn directly from our core collections. Produced in carefully controlled quantities, these works offer a powerful way to own a piece of the gallery’s evolving narrative.

 Collector Note Cards & Boxed Sets

Elevated correspondence inspired by original works designed not just to send, but to keep. These sets blend utility with collectibility, often becoming personal archives of the art itself.

Tabletop & Boxed Art Editions

A signature offering, refined, tactile, and presentation-ready. These curated sets are designed for intimate display and gifting, bridging the space between fine art and personal object.

Wearable Art

Select garments and textiles that translate the artwork into form and movement. Created with a focus on quality, fit, and design integrity—these are pieces meant to be worn, not just seen.

Seasonal & Special Releases

Throughout the year, the store evolves with us. Holiday collections, themed releases, and limited-time offerings—such as Orange & Black seasonal pieces, commemorative works, and exclusive drops—ensure there is always something new to discover.

Digital & Emerging Formats

From digital releases to experimental formats, we continue to explore new ways to experience and collect art in a modern world.