Artworks from Thomas Stephan

"Conquering the surface of the canvas"

The painting tradition of his hometown showed Thomas Stephan the way: "In the lovely Elbe valley, colours have always been kept fluid. Although no new art movement has emanated from here since the times when the artists of the "Brücke" found their provocative and liberated expressionist Arcadia at the nearby Moritzburg ponds, painting has been done incessantly in the old residential town - even if comparatively unimpressed by the discourse of the international avant-garde.

Creative chaos reigns in the studio with its backyard panorama. Currently, four large formats are being worked on in parallel for the next exhibition. In his work as an artist, the Dresden-born artist deals with the most catchy thing: the effect of colours on human perception: For him, the colour must constantly enter into new interactions, permanently merging until completion. Thus his painting techniques, as well as materials, are constantly changing. At first glance, Thomas Stephan's mostly large-format paintings seem trivial in the otherwise concept-oriented way of working, but appearances are deceptive: the cleverly composed depictions are multi-layered and very structure-intensive. Layer by layer, he succeeds in "conquering the surface of the canvas" and creating a balance between representational and abstract elements. His works are considered minimalist to subtle and often invite interpretation.

Working method

Not infrequently, the artist's own photographs provide the necessary material for his work. Detail, focus, timing - all this should be the product of his own decision. The artist is almost constantly on the lookout for images, the camera as his third eye is always with him. What then follows takes time. At first, the prints accumulate in thick piles; with a time gap that clarifies the emotions, Stephan groups them into imaginary exhibitions in the album. Only then is selected and enlarged in acrylic on canvas what is intended for a real exhibition project. The artist relies entirely on the classical principles of composition and skilfully uses the tried and tested effects of painting: a splash in the right place, a wisp of colour - only these make the painting original. The artist constantly reinvents himself and is convinced that the unfinished work must be worked on until a state of perfection and seamless harmony is achieved. Completion of a work of art can only be achieved in harmony with one's own predetermined demands. To this day, the artist has thus been able to work out a multitude of different painting techniques. The persistent urge to always "create something new" is unmistakably present in his works.

After completing his studies several years ago, Thomas Stephan has devoted himself intensively to modern painting, thus creating a steadily growing regional, national and international clientele.

VITA

Born 1975
Since 2003: Autodidactic study of painting, focus on abstract acrylic painting
2004: Foundation of the artist group Inspire-ART
2005: Opening of the gallery Abstrakte Momente in Dresden
September 2006: Birth of the first son
2006-2009: deepening - colour effects/colour perception
March 2010: Birth of the second son
2010-2012: preoccupation - aesthetic painting
2013-2015: intensive involvement - informal art
2015: further education through painting courses on spontaneous realism, acrylic painting and drawing courses
2016-2018: self-study abstract expressionism
2019: gallery work and exchange with renowned artists

Exhibitions

- March 2005: Group exhibition at the opening of Galerie AM
- November 2005: Group exhibition at Parkhotel DD
- March 2006: Group exhibition "Art & Emotions
- October 2006: Group exhibition at Kugelhaus Dresden
- December 2006: Group exhibition "Living Abstractions
- March 2007: Group exhibition "Detours
- October 2007: Group exhibition "City Talks
- December 2007: Group exhibition "Painterly Symbolism
- April 2008: Group exhibition "Streiflichter
- July 2008: Group exhibition at Campino Dresden
- July 2008: Art on the building, joint project with Jörg Haubner
- Since August 2008: Permanent exhibition at the Ramada Hotel Dresden
- December 2008: Group exhibition "Muttersprache
- April 2009: Group exhibition "Colour meets Surface
- Since July 2009: external permanent exhibition "Abstract Variations
- September 2009: Group exhibition "Blickwinkel
- December 2009: Exhibition "Water - Fire - Cave Art
- October 2010: Solo exhibition "Alles Farbe!
- April 2011: Group exhibition "Lichter Schatten" (Lights and Shadows)
- March 2012: Group exhibition "Landscapes
- June 2013: Group exhibition "Red Meets Blue
- September 2014: Group exhibition "Alles im Fluss "
- March 2015: Anniversary exhibition "10 Years - 2 Ways".
- September 2015: Group exhibition "FREI IM RAUM" At Friese e.V.
- 2016-2019: Various permanent exhibitions in the Dresden area (MVZ, Hotel Pulsnitz, etc.)