“My name is Steve, and I’m Sharon Kelly’s husband.”

Steve Brougham paused, giving time for the words to settle over the room.

“That feels really good to say,” he added. “I’m Sharon Kelly’s husband.”

Surrounded by his late wife’s abstract paintings, Brougham welcomed guests to A Life in Colour last night.

The exhibition, mounted at Wall Space Gallery + Framing in Old Ottawa South, pays tribute to the life and legacy of Sharon Kelly — a gifted Ottawa artist, devoted wife and mother, teacher and friend to many. Her works have found homes in private and public collections, including Rideau Hall.

Sharon died in April 2025 at the age of 61 following a six-year battle with cancer.

More than 150 friends, family members and supporters turned out for the opening while also helping to raise money for the May Court Hospice, where Sharon spent her final days. The exhibit continues through to July 25.

“I did the show for Sharon and I did it for me,” Brougham explained. “I did it as a way to honour Sharon. It’s not a sad day because I am such a lucky man.”

“Lucky” isn’t the word most people would use after losing the love of their life. But Brougham chose to focus on gratitude while still acknowledging how much he missed her. He kept his composure throughout, even as his eyes occasionally glistened.

“I feel blessed,” he told everyone. “Thank God for Sharon. I have a beautiful, adventurous, courageous daughter [Bella] thanks to Sharon. And I got to spend over 35 years of my life with Sharon. I am a very lucky man.”

Steve Brougham welcomed guests to the vernissage for A Life in Colour, featuring paintings by his late wife, Sharon Kelly, along with works by Heidi Conrod, Christopher Griffin and Vickie Marsango, in support of the May Court Hospice. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Brougham also thanked Wall Space for hosting the fundraising exhibition, as well as Dale Smith, who came out of semi-retirement to curate the show with Haruka Toyoda.

“I can’t say enough wonderful things about Wall Space,” Smith told the room. “They have just gone above and beyond.”

Smith was the first gallerist to represent Sharon’s work at her Beechwood Avenue gallery. She didn’t hesitate when Brougham phoned on “a cold, dark January night” this year to share his idea for the fundraiser.

“When Steve called me and told me about his idea, then asked if I’d be interested in being part of it, I said, ‘Absolutely,’ probably before the words were even out of his mouth,” said Smith. “It’s been such an honour to have had a small part in bringing A Life in Colour to everyone tonight.”

Smith said she tried to channel Sharon while preparing her remarks. She imagined Sharon saying, “Keep it short and don’t talk very much about me.”

Sharon never liked being the centre of attention, making a group exhibition feel like the perfect tribute, she said. The show also included works by Ottawa artists Heidi Conrod, who once shared studio space with Sharon, Christopher Griffin, and Florida-based artist Vickie Marsango, whose artist retreats Sharon attended.

Dale Smith came out of semi-retirement to help curate A Life in Colour at Wall Space Gallery + Framing in honour of her artist friend, the late Sharon Kelly, in support of the May Court Hospice. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Wall Space Gallery + Framing curator Haruka Toyoda and co-owner Tom Barr at their gallery, located on Bank Street in Old Ottawa South, for the opening of A Life in Colour in support of the May Court Hospice. Photo by Caroline Phillips

One of the evening’s sweetest contributions came from five-year-old Annie Lea-Cox. As soon as she entered the gallery, the girl spotted her work on the wall and exclaimed, “There’s my painting!”

Her piece, Cotton Candy, was inspired by the soft colours that characterized so much of Sharon’s art. It also reflected Sharon’s gift for nurturing creativity in children. “Sharon loved working with young humans,” said Brougham.

Former neighbour Joseph Cull described Sharon as “the loveliest, sweetest, kindest” person. Conrod, who stayed friends with Sharon over the years, said she was always “very encouraging and supportive.”

From left, Steve Brougham with his former neighbours, Ian Engelberg and Joseph Cull, along with Ottawa photographic artist Joy Kardish at Wall Space Gallery + Framing for the opening of A Life in Colour, held in honour of Brougham’s late wife, Sharon Kelly, and in support of the May Court Hospice. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The evening also benefited from the generosity of wealth management professional Brian Montgomery, who owns Oat Couture Café just a couple blocks away, as well as its second location on Gladstone Avenue. He supplied the drinks and serving staff.

Attendees included Mila Starodoub, branch director at RBC Dominion Securities and board member with the National Arts Centre Foundation. Starodoub personally purchased one of Sharon’s paintings while the wealth management division of RBC donated $5,000 to the May Court Hospice.

Brougham is himself a senior portfolio manager and wealth advisor with RBC Dominion Securities.

Brian Montgomery, owner of Oat Couture Café, seen with his wife, Jenn Guerrero, generously supported the vernissage for A Life in Colour held at Wall Space Gallery + Framing in support of the May Court Hospice. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Steve Brougham paid tribute to his late wife, Ottawa artist Sharon Kelly, by organizing a group art exhibit featuring her work while also raising funds for May Court Hospice. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Mila Starodoub, branch director at RBC Dominion Securities, and James Bickerton, who recently moved from Ottawa to Toronto with his wife, Pauline Kabitsis, for his new job as vice president at Hamilton Lane, were back in town to support A Life in Colour, which opened at Wall Space Gallery + Framing on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips 

TD Wealth senior investment advisor Christopher Martin, left, showed up to support his good friend Steve Brougham, senior portfolio manager and wealth advisor with RBC Dominion Securities, for the opening of a new art show, A Life in Colour, that honours Brougham’s late wife, Sharon Kelly, while also raising funds for the May Court Hospice. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Five-year-old Annie Lea-Cox with her mom, Becca Taylor, next to her painting, Cotton Candy. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Noah Killeen, client associate at CIBC Wood Gundy, with his mother, Ottawa artist Heidi Conrod, brother Simon Killeen and father Pierre Killeen at the opening of A Life in Colour at Wall Space Gallery + Framing. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Smith spoke about why art matters. “I believe paintings are conversations,” she said, explaining how Sharon’s brushstrokes, softly layered textures and the way her colours melt into one another invite a dialogue with each viewer.

She described art as “fundamentally necessary” for a fully lived experience, saying that great works of art — whether paintings, poetry, literature or music — “have the ability to reach parts of ourselves we never knew existed.”

And if art makes you want to cry, that’s perfectly okay, she added. “That means you are human in the fullest sense of the word.”

From left, Roslyn Bern, president of the Leacross Foundation, and Micheline Shoebridge, executive director at MASC (Multicultural Arts for Schools and Communities) at the vernissage for A Life in Colour held at Wall Space Gallery + Framing in support of the May Court Hospice. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Anna Rumin, who’s a student of the Ottawa School of Art, and her husband, Norman Southward, head of Ashbury College, were out supporting A Life in Colour, a new group art exhibit at Wall Space Gallery + Framing that honours the late Sharon Kelly while also raising funds for the May Court Hospice. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Like Brougham, Smith also spoke about missing Sharon, especially her gentle nature, wisdom, passion and friendship. “I miss knowing that she exists in the world, but when we look around us, here she is,” said Smith.

Brougham recalled Sharon’s lifelong habit of leaving little handwritten notes throughout the house and in her studio. “And I tell people, it makes me sad for a second but happy for a lifetime because I have these memories.”

Brougham also shared that Sharon believed in angels. While some might expect a more heavenly name, she called hers “Jane.”

“Yup, Jane. Just Jane,” Brougham said as everyone smiled.

Brougham wrapped up his remarks with a Mary Oliver poem called The World I Live In that he found in his wife’s studio. He said that it reminded him of Sharon.

The poem ends with the line: “Only if there are angels in your head will you ever, possibly, see one.”

Steve Brougham, who came up with the idea of organizing an art show to honour his late wife, artist Sharon Kelly, is seen hugging one of his guests at the vernissage, held at Wall Space Gallery + Framing on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Dale Smith, Heidi Conrod, Belle Brougham and her dad, Steve Brougham, at the vernissage for A Life in Colour at Wall Space Gallery + Framing. Photo by Caroline Phillips

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WEALTH (WCPD), Syntax Strategic, RBC, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law and Prime Benefits Group.

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