GARY STEPHENS

(b. 1962 Yuma, AZ, USA)

 

Born on the Mexican border town of Yuma, Arizona, Gary Stephens studied painting and drawing at the University of Arizona and the San Francsico Art Institute. For the past thirty years, he has worked as an artist and travelled extensively in Latin America, Asia, Europe and Africa for inspiration. In 1998, he moved to Florence, Italy, where he lived and worked for ten years refining his drawing style. In 2009, he did a year long residency at Greatmore Studios in Cape Town. Since 2008, Stephens has been living and working in South Africa – where his work began on a series of monumental portraits of his artist friends and their African sense of style and dress. He combines his interests in optical effects, stripes, fractured images, with his love of pattern and mark-making and uses the portrait and cityscape to explore both his visual interests and to engage with the beauty of the African continent. Stephens’ work is in public and private collections in the US, Europe and the Middle East.

 

Monumental in scale, Gary Stephens portraits pay homage to the African traditions of hair-braiding, hats, headscarves and contemporary urban style. The drawings capturing a view from behind, focus on the iconic power of a subject’s hair or hat instead of their specific facial features. Stephens portrays women in head scarves or men wearing caps to focus attention on the power of these “everyday” symbols of African life. He documents the sense of style and attention people put into how present themselves in a contemporary African setting. From a visual perspective, he is constantly drawn to patterns and visual rhythms, such as geometric repetitions, textile patterns, or botanical shapes. He is attracted to non-verbal, hypnotic visual experiences and chooses his subjects for their stripes and textures. He creates patterns underneath the images that randomly break though and energize the image.

 

 

EDUCATION

 

1980-82

 

University of Arizona, Tucson, USA

 

1983-84

 

San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, USA

 

1985-86

 

College of Marin, Kentfield, Ca, USA

 

 

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

 

2022  

 

Knysna Fine Arts, Knysna South Africa, Lambent Folds, New Work

 

2020  

 

Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg, Local

 

2017  

 

Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg, “Pleated” Wax Fabric Portraits

 

2015  

 

Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg, Scarf

 

2013

 

Omenka Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria, Networks and Voids, Modern Nigerian Hairstyles with Okhai Ojeikere

 

2012

 

Gallery Momo, In Conversation, Johannesburg, SA

 

Omenka Gallery, The Ankara Portraits, Lagos, Nigeria

 

2011

 

Gallery Momo, Braids and Caps, Johannesburg, SA

 

2008

 

Yuma Art Centre Museum, Arizona, USA, “NewWork”

 

Studio Dimore, Florence, Italy,

 

2005

 

Yuma Art Centre Museum, Yuma, Az “Cactus and Sunflowers"

 

Gallerie Franzke Art Meeting Point, Vienna, Austria

 

Polissena, Prato (Florence), Italy “Arizona Meets Africa”

 

2004

 

BZF, Vellechi Spazio Culturale, Florence, Italy “Giant Sunflowers”

 

2003

 

Yuma Fine Arts Centre, Yuma, Az, “Desert Fauve Landscapes”

 

2002

 

Momoyama Art space, Florence, Italy “Spirit Vessels”

 

2000

 

Michael Himovitz Gallery, Sacramento, Ca

 

1995

 

College of Marin; Kentfield, Ca

 

1991

 

Braunstein / Quay Gallery, San Francisco,Ca, “Personal Icons”

 

1990

 

Elaine Horwitch Galleries, Palm Springs, Ca

 

Sun Gallery, Haward, Ca “Earthly Delights”

 

Yuma Art Centre; Yuma, Az, “The Whimsical Animal”

 

1989

 

Claudia Chapline Gallery; Stinson Beach, Ca, “Heads”

 

1987

 

Claudia Chapline Gallery, Stinson Beach, Ca, “The Wild West Show”

 

The Phoenix Gallery, San Francisco,

 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

 

2022

 

Everard Read London, Summer group show

 

2020

 

Paper Positions Berlin Art Fair, Artco Gallery, Berlin Germany

 

2019

 

Art X Lagos Art Fair, Everard Read Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria

 

2018 

 

Soart Gallery, Casablanca, “Back Ground Africa”

Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg, Botanical group exhibition

Capetown Art Fair, Artco Gallery, Aachen Germany

 

2017

 

Kynsna Fine Arts, Kynsna , SA,   20th Year Anniversary Exhibition

 

2016 

 

Capetown Art Fair, Artco Gallery, Germany

 

2016

Johannesburg Art Fair,  Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg

 

2014

 

Omenka Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria, London 14, International Art Fair, Booth F

 

Artco Gallery, Aachen Germany. London 14, International Art Fair, Booth H4

 

2013

 

Everard Read Gallery, Sydney Australia, Sydney Contemporary13 art booth

 

Everard Read Gallery, Johanneburg Art Fair, Sandton Civic Center,

 

David Krut, Trees, Newlands, Capetown, SA

 

2012

 

Gallery Momo, Johannesburg, SA, Gallery artists exhibit.

 

2010

 

Spanish Embassy, The World of Cape Town Art, Cape Town, S A

 

2009

 

Greatmore Art Studios, Cape Town, South Africa, members show

 

UCA Gallery, Woodstock, South Africa “Portraits”

 

2006

 

L’Albero Celeste, San Gimignano, Italy, “Summer Group Show”

 

1998

 

Wolk Gallery, St. Helena, Ca

 

Mill Valley Sculture Garden, Mill Valley, Ca

 

Mendocino Art Centre, Ca, “Ceramic Sculpture: A Fine Arta View”

 

1997

 

Napa Valley College, Ca, “Bay Area Art”

 

1996

 

Irvine Fine Arts Centre; Irvine, Ca “Maps, Globes and Charts”

 

1994

 

Anchorage Museum of History & Art, Anchorage, Ak “A World of Maps”

 

1993

 

San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, “Body Politic”

 

Bolinas Museum, Pt. Reyes, Ca “Self Portraits: True Stories”

 

University of Arizona, Tucson, Az, “Earth Day Juried Show"

 

1992

 

Faulkirk Cultural Centre, San Rafael, Ca, “Shrines” ( Cash Award)

 

1991

 

LA Artcore, Los Angeles,Ca, “8th Juried Exhibition”

 

Downey Museum of Art, Ca, “Contemporary Virgins of Guadalupe”

 

Dinnerware Artists’ Cooperative, Tucson, AZ, “Biennial Exhibit”

 

Nelson Morales Gallery, San Francisco,Ca, “Anti War Signs”

 

1990

 

Arpel Gallery, Santa Barbara, Ca “Juried Exhibition”

 

Bolinas Museum, Bolinas, Ca, “Living Artists Program”

 

Elaine Horwitch Galleries; Scottsdale, Az, “The Reflected Image”

 

Arizona Art Commission Traveling Exhibition, “True Blues”

 

Elaine Horwitch Galleries; Sedona, Az

 

1989 

 

San Francisco Art Commission Gallery, San Francisco (Curator, ReneYanez)

 

Casa Grande Art Museum, Casa Grande, Az, “Animals”

 

San Francisco Art Dealers Association, San Francisco, Ca “Introductions”

 

1988 

 

Claudia Chapline Gallery, Stinson Beach, Ca, “New Landscapes”

 

Michael Himovitz Gallery, Sacramento, Ca, “Southwest Christmas”

 

Yosemite Nat'l. Park, Ca, “Yosemite Renaissance III”

 

1987 

 

Michael Ivey Gallery, Los Angeles

 

Virginia Breier Gallery, San Francisco

 

1986 

 

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Rental Gallery, San Francisco

 

Falkirk Centre Annual Juried Show, San Rafael, Ca

 

1985 

 

Crocker-Kingsley Museum, Sacramento,Ca, “Annual Exhibit”

 

 

 

TEACHING/RESIDENCIES

 

2012 

 

Printmaking lecture and workshop leader, Yaba Tech, Lagos Nigeria

 

2008 

 

Painitng Residency, Greatmore Art Studios, Cape Town, S A

 

Guest lecture, Living Artist, Polytech University of Milan, Italy

 

1993 

 

Studied traditional Balinese painting with native artists, Ubud, Bali

 

1990 

 

Fairbanks, Alaska, “Animals, Myths & Monsters”, Ceramics Workshop

 

Juror, 64th Parallel Competition, Fairbanks, Alaska

 

Exhibition, Residency, Public Lecture, and

 

School Tours; Yuma Art Centre, Yuma, Az

 

 

 

AWARDS

 

1994 

 

Grant Recipient, Crafts Category, Marin Arts Council

 

1993 

 

Best of Class (Drawing), Marin County Fair, Ca

 

1991 

 

Best of Class (Mixed Media), Marin County Fair, Ca (Jurors: Wayne Thiebaud, Ruth Braunstein)

 

1986 

 

Grand Prize, “Spirit of Agriculture” Contest, MALT, Marin, Ca, Honorable Mention, Marin County Fair, Ca

 

1985 

 

Honorable Mention Cash Award, Marin County Fair, Ca, Invitational Exhibit Student Award, Sausalito Art Festival, Ca

 

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

Yswara Griot, Arts and Culture blog May 5, 2013 “the Magic of Gary Stephens and the Everyday”

 

Omenka Gallery -Gary Stephens, The Ankara Portraits, exhibition catalog 2012 Lagos, Nigeria

 

Mary Ekah -Thisday, The Saturday Newspaper, Lagos Nigeria Oct 20th,2012

 

“African Urban Lifestyle from the Brush of an American

 

Tajudeen Sowole -Africanartswithtaj, Nigerian art blog, October 2012

 

Ankara Portriats

 

Robyn Sassen - Sunday Times Review, Joihannesburg  JUne 5th, 2011

 

“Making Haircuts the Headline Act”

 

Sue Grant Marshell -The Arch, Johannesburg Winter 2011 “Streets Ahead, Hair as Braided Art Form”

 

JoAnne Locktov - The Art of Mosaic Design, Rockport Press, 1998

 

Torri Minton - San Francisco Chronicle, “Too-Human Angel”, Sept. 22, 1994

 

Pascale Le Draoulec- Marin Independent Journal, “Suggestive Art Pulled”, Sept. 20, 1994

 

Margaret Regan- Tucson Weekly, “the Best of The West”, June 12, 1991

 

Jennifer Crohn- San Francisco Bay Guardian, “Art Against War”, March 13, 1991

 

Tyson Underwood- Pacific Sun, “Colorful Ceramic Animal Fantasies”, June 8, 1990

 

Anna McClain- In Marin, “No Attitude, Gary Stephens Paints Happy”, June, 1990

 

Michele Cohen- Yuma Daily Sun, “Yuma Bred Artist Tickles Visual Pallet”, January 11,1990

 

Phyllis Bragdon- Marin Independent Journal, “Falkirk Annual”, Sept. 5, 1989

 

David Mitchell- Point Reyes Light, "Sparsely Sage and Timely", June 29, 1989

 

Jim Scanlon- Coastal Post, “Socko Stinson Art Show”, June 26, 1989

 

Jennifer Merin- Los Angeles Times, “Sedona: Art Scene”, June ,1988

 

David Hale- Fresno Metropolitan Art Report, “Yosemite Renaissance III”, Summer, 1988

 

 

 

COLLECTIONS (SELECTED LIST)

 

James Makamba, London UK

 

Dumisane Phakate, Johannesburg SA

 

Mpho Diale, Johannesburg SA

 

Malungelo Zilimbola, Johannesburg SA

 

Acha Leke, Johannesburg SA

 

Rand Merchant Bank, Johannesburg, SA

 

Kgomotso Monnakgotla, Johannesburg SA

 

Bowman Gilfillan, Johannesburg, SA

 

Oakland Museum, Ca, USA

 

Chip Conley, Joie di Vive Hotels, Ca USA

 

Carlos Santana, Phoenix Hotel, San Francisco, USA

 

Commodore Hotel, San Francisco, USA

 

Casa Del Mar, Stinson Beach, Ca, USA

 

Qasr Al Sarab Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE

 

Roberto & Eva Cavalli, Florence Italy

 

Guido Ciompi, architetto, Florence Italy

 

Pietro Marani, Curator, Milan, Italy

 

Roselyne C. Swig, Artsource, San Francisco USA

 

Joan Shain, Art Options, San Francisco, USA

 

Sina Hotels, Venice, Italy