Stephen Paris

Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Stephen Gustafson Paris discovered early on a love for art. His skill at drawing gained particular attention. Later, his talents were further nurtured by his high school art teacher who helped him discover a broader range of materials and techniques. Stephen also developed an interest in science and when it came time to choose a college major, he decided on biology instead of art. Still, after earning his bachelors degree in Biological Science at Youngstown State University, Stephen felt called to pursue an art career wherever that led. With the encouragement from a friend, Stephen moved to Pittsburg, PA to study at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. It was here that Stephen was exposed to illustration, photography, advertising and graphic design, graduating with a degree in Visual Communications. This led to Stephen making a career working as a graphic designer, art director, and creative director. It was during this time that he started working with oil and developing a personal visual language.

Stephen moved to Wilmington, Delaware and began showing his work in group and solo exhibitions at local galleries. One of his works was selected for the Delaware Art Museum exhibit “Biennial ‘93”. He was also a recipient of The Individual Artist Fellowship, Established Professional in Painting by the Delaware State Arts Council. Stephen’s painterly style is rich in detail with vibrant texture and color with surface as important as the subject. A common practice consists of collaged pieces such as newspaper cuttings, book pages, and envelopes. Often in developing the composition, he mixes representation with abstraction with both real and imagined contexts at play. His landscape works depict scenes inspired from travel destinations and still life works that often include conceptual considerations. A signature motif is the use of numbers and symbols—often from the technology world. These function as access points to convey thoughts that contrast with the picturesque. His paintings are constructed with a compositional dynamic that often challenges conventional arrangements. Stephen lives and works in the Columbus Ohio area with his wife, Theresa.