Stairwell Gallery Pops Up on Street 240 with “Echoes” — A Launch Party Full of Soul, Sound and Spritzes

This Saturday, Phnom Penh’s creative crowd is in for a treat. A fresh art space — the Stairwell Gallery — is opening its doors right in the heart of the city, and you’re invited to its launch party. Tucked inside Paradise on Street 240 (yes, that wee hipster treasure trove of lush interiors and local craftsmanship), the gallery makes its debut with Echoes, a new exhibition that promises to stir hearts, start conversations, and maybe even move some feet.

Running from 4:30pm to 7:30pm on May 24th, Echoes is a curated selection of Cambodian-inspired works that traverse boundaries of medium, memory and meaning. The creative force behind it is Victoria Brooker, artist, designer, and founder of Studio Sakura, who’s known for her thoughtful approach to curating spaces that feel more like living conversations than sterile galleries. With Echoes, Brooker brings together a hand-picked mix of local and international artists — all grappling, in their own distinct ways, with the textures and tensions of Cambodia past and present.

“I’ve always loved stairwells; they carry a quiet kind of magic, connecting spaces and people. Walking up and down everyday I just had a strong feeling that I wanted to turn it into a gallery,” says Brooker, describing the climb up to Sakura Studio on St 240. “As a creative, I spend a lot of time working alone, and I wanted to create more community around what I do — something open, welcoming, and shared. I also wanted to offer a space for other artists and creatives to showcase their work in a setting that feels relaxed yet considered. The Stairwell Gallery is a way to celebrate art in an unexpected place, to gather people, and to make creativity more visible and accessible.”

Brooker, who says art is in her blood, feels there is an exciting shift taking place in Phnom Penh’s art scene, drawing it away from “darker and more macabre themes” to something “diverse and expressive, mirroring the changes in the city itself”.

And this comes through in the work on display. Expect layered canvases, abstract shapes, subtle nods to Khmer architectural forms, and deeply personal visual stories. The result is an immersive little world tucked into a stairwell — quite literally — that invites you to slow down, step inside, and reflect. If you’ve ever wanted to see Phnom Penh through a kaleidoscope of other people’s eyes and brushstrokes, this is your chance.

“For me, everything is art — the way something sounds, feels, looks, or is experienced,” Brooker adds. “The city offers a poetic duality: old and new, hidden and exposed, elegant and improvised. I’m drawn to those quiet moments — architectural details kissed by light, weathered walls behind shiny new facades — the stories that often go unnoticed.”

Of course, no launch party is complete without some sonic seasoning, and Stairwell has that covered too. Our favourite vinyl whisperer Nikolas Esselle — of Tic Tic Bar fame — will be manning the decks with his signature genre-bending soundscape, spinning everything from dreamy ambient to deep grooves. If you’ve spent a night swaying in the shadows at Tic Tic, you already know the vibe.

And because the Stairwell Gallery is hosted within Paradise, the party perks extend to the shop floor too. During the launch, guests will score 15–25% off select items from Paradise — think sleek ceramics, handmade cushions, and dreamy decor that makes your apartment feel like a boutique hotel in Kampot.

More than just an exhibition opening, this feels like the kind of gathering Phnom Penh does best: low-key but stylish, culture-rich but casual, and full of the kind of energy that only happens when good people, good tunes, and good ideas are in the same room. Or in this case, stairwell.

So, whether you’re a devoted gallery hopper, a sucker for a soft launch with soft lighting, or just curious to see what a staircase turned art space looks like — come by, have a spritz, and soak up the vibes. No pretension, just passion.

The Stairwell Gallery presents: Echoes | A Launch Party
📍 Paradise, Street 240, Phnom Penh
🗓 Saturday, May 24th
🕓 4:30pm – 7:30pm
🎶 Music by Nikolas Esselle
🛍 15–25% off select items from Paradise during the event

See you on the stairs.