Approved: 16.08.2006

Chris Stevens

Artist, Curator

Archived
Approved: 16.08.2006

I always use figures in my paintings. I use them to challenge the preconceptions we have about people due to media stereotyping. The paintings are concerned with identity, class, race, gender and the environment. This narrative is an essential element in my work, without a narrative I lose interest. I am however also concerned with the language of paint and the abstract nature of the process.
I am

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  • Location: London
  • Artforms: Painting
  • Tags: 2d, figurative, figures, people, political, realism, horses, painting, landscape, oil, mixed media, multi media, urban, portrasiture, portraiture
 
 

Artist Statement

I always use figures in my paintings. I use them to challenge the preconceptions we have about people due to media stereotyping. The paintings are concerned with identity, class, race, gender and the environment. This narrative is an essential element in my work, without a narrative I lose interest. I am however also concerned with the language of paint and the abstract nature of the process. I am not am not concerned with traditional portraiture as the people I paint are like actors on a stage depicting a type rather than an individual identity.The irony is that I know all the people I paint be it that they are friends, family or students that I teach and as a result it is inevitable that they do not stay anonymous. This is the element of the painting that transforms the subjects from anonymous stereotypes to people with an individual identity. The figures are set against sparse backgrounds which are usually reminiscent of a decaying urban environment. There are also additional images introduced which juxtapose with the central characters to help to create the narrative.

CV & Education

Qualifications and training:

1978 - BA Fine Art, University of Reading, Reading

Solo exhibitions:

2016   The Age of Reason, Beaux Arts, London (solo){C}

2015   Chris Stevens, Laxeiro Museo Municipal Ramon Ma Aller, Lalin, Spain (solo)

2012 - Context, Roaves & Roams, Reading

2007 - Chris Stevens, Galerie Rademaker, Amsterdam

2006 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Rotterdam

2005 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag

2003 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Amsterdam

2001 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag

2000 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Amsterdam

1999 - Chris Stevens, PM Gallery, London

1998 - Chris Stevens, Southampton Arts Centre, Southampton

1997 - Chris Stevens, Black Bull Gallery, London

1997 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag

1995 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag

1995 - Chris Stevens Paintings, Southampton Arts Centre, Southampton

1994 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag

1993 - Chris Stevens Recent Work, Southampton Arts Centre, Southampton

1991 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag

1990 - Chris Stevens, Sue Williams Gallery, London

1988 - Chris Stevens Paintings, Black Bull Gallery, London

1988 - Elective Affinities, Sue Williams Gallery, London

1985 - Chris Stevens at Roker Park, Glynn Vivian Museum & Art Gallery, Swansea

1985 - Mayday Britain, Conduit Galleries, London

1985 - New Work, Howard Gardens Gallery, South Glamorgan Institute of Education, Cardiff

1985 - Number One, Axiom, Centre For The Arts, Cheltenham

1984 - Chris Stevens at Roker Park, Northern Centre for the Contemporary Arts, Sunderland

1981 - Chris Stevens, South Hill Park, Bracknell

1980 - Chris Stevens Paintings, Axiom, Centre For The Arts, Cheltenham

1980 - Images of Youth, Touring exhibition, Southern Arts region

Group exhibitions: 

2015  Contrastes, Galleria Emergentes dst, Braga, Portugal.

2015  El Camino, Hortensia Gallery, London.

2015  The Contemporary Portrait, Thompson’s , London

2915  West, Griffin Gallery, London

2015  REALITY, Modern & Contemporary Painting, The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

2014  Clive Beardsmore collection, Walsall New Art Gallery.

2014  Recent Work, Hortensia Gallery, London     

2014  METROESCAPES Laxeiro Museo Municipal Ramon Ma Aller, Lalin, Spain

2014   REALITY, Modern & Contemporary Painting, Sansbury Cetre, Norwich.

2013 - Painted Faces, Saatchi Gallery @ Griffin Gallery, London

2013 - Stars in Your Eyes, The Institute of Physics , London

2012 - 40x40, Riverside Studios, Londn

2012 - 7th Ealing Open, PM Gallery, London

2011 - XIV Interbifep, Galerija Portreta, Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovena

2011 - 40x40, Riverside Studios, London

2011 - Antes Y Ahora, Museo Municipale, Ourense, Spain

2011 - London Lives, Bankside Gallery, London

2011 - X Biennial Painter Laxeiro , Museo Municipal Ramon , Lalin, Spain

2010 - 6th Ealing Open, PM Gallery, London

2010 - Cluster, Stone Gallery, Dublin

2009 - 1984, Kowalsky Gallery, London

2009 - Group exhibition, De Queeste, Brussels

2009 - Winter Exhibition, Stone Gallery, Dublin

2008 - Time, Space & the Other, De Queeste Kunstkamers, Belgium

2007 - Art Auction, The Building Centre, London

2007 - Beyond The Narrative, PM Gallery, London

2007 - Modern Figure, Oisin Gallery, Dublin

2006 - 50 over 50, University of Brighton Gallery, Brighton

2006 - Ealing Open, PM Gallery, London

2006 - Heads, Flowers East, London

2006 - Miniatuur 06, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Amsterdam

2006 - Open Studios exhibition, Richmond House, Space studios, London

2006 - RAG, Riverside Studios, London

2005 - Miniature, Kyibidou Gallery, Tokyo

2005 - Miniatuur 05, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag

2005 - Sven Hoekstra, Frank Dekkers, Rob Van Hoek & Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Rotterdam

2004 - 35 Jaar, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag

2002 - Eidectic, Britart Gallery, London

2002 - Golden, Britart Gallery, London

2002 - Miniature, Raid Projects Gallery, Los Angeles

2002 - Sunday Times, Singer & Friedlander Water Colour Competition, Mall Galleries, London

2001 - Ealing Open, PM Gallery, London

1999 - KunstRai, Amsterdam, Netherlands

1999 - The Future Famous, The Unicorn Gallery, London

1998 - Ealing Open, PM Gallery, London

1998 - KunstRAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

1998 - Miniatures, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag

1997 - Fabulous Transgressions, Reg Vardy Gallery, University of Sunderland

1996 - BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London

1996 - First Sight, PM Gallery, London

1995 - BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London

1995 - KunstRAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

1995 - Whitechapel Open Studios, Deborah House, London

1993 - Drawings of Distinction, Metropolitan Wharf, London

1992 - BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London

1991 - Face Values, Quicksilver Gallery, Middlesex University, London

1991 - International Contemporary Art Fair, Sue Williams Gallery, London

1991 - Modern Life, Black Bull Gallery, London

1991 - Seven City Artists, Tobacco Dock, London

1991 - Whitechapel Open Studios, Deborah House, London

1990 - Black Bull Artists, Black Bull Gallery, London

1990 - BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London

1990 - Fussball In Der Kunst, Pfalzgalerie, Kaiserlautern, Germany

1990 - International Contemporary Art Fair, Sue Williams Gallery, London

1989 - Critics Choice 5, Air Gallery, London

1989 - Fussball In Der Kunst, Leopold-Hoersc Museum, Doren, Germany

1989 - International Contemporary Art Fair, Sue Williams Gallery, London

1988 - The Maginot Line, Riverside Studios, London

1986 - Artists In Industry, touring exhibition, West Midlands Arts region

1986 - Beyond Appearance, Touring exhibition, Southern Arts region

1986 - John Player Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London

1986 - The Spirit of London, Mall Galleries, London

1986 - The Spirit of London, Royal Festival Hall, London

1985 - Art at Work, Carlisle Museum & Art Gallery, Carlisle

1985 - Art at Work, South London Gallery, London

1985 - Axiom Review, Axiom Centre for the Arts, Cheltenham

1984 - Works on Paper, Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, USA

1983 - Art at Work, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle Upon Tyne

1983 - The River Wear Exhibition, Northern Centre for the Contemporary Arts, Sunderland

1977 - New Contemporaries, Royal Academy, London

Curated projects

2007 - Beyond The Narrative, PM Gallery, London.

2014 - REALITY, Modern & Contemporary Paintng, Sainsbury Centre, Norwich 

Residencies

1985 - West Midlands Arts Residency, Birmingham International Airport, Birmingham

1984 - Arts Council Artist in Residence, Sunderland Football Club.

commissions

2006 - Paintings, Standard Chartered Bank, Kenya

1989 - Series of paintings, Scenes From The Class Struggle In Beverly Hills, North Street Films, Los Angeles

Competitions, prizes and awards

2013  Painted Faces, Saaatchi Art.

2006 - 50 over 50 winner, University of Brighton Gallery, Brighton

1990 - BP Portrait Award Prizewinner, National Portrait Gallery, London

1985 - Artist as Printmaker Award, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, London

1982 - Award, For Painting, South West Arts

1981 - Award, For Painting, Southern Arts