Kristen Stephen

Artist Statement

"Kristen Stephen is an abstract painter, who responds intuitively to her artistic materials, to create works that represent what she finds beautiful. In her series Glitter Magpie, she begins by dyeing her canvas with India ink, stretching it, then painting it with India ink, acrylic colours, and glitter, fixed with gel. "I find glitter seductive, and magpies are attracted to glitter," she explains. "The black backdrop provides a harshness which organizes the colours and keeps them from floating off." Painting for Kristen is an obsession, spontaneously arising from her subconscious. "I want to encapsulate viewers, and to transport them to a place of ease, through colour planes of glitter and softness."

Biography

Kristen Stephen was born in Amherst, New York, and moved to Canada when she was six years old. Kristen spent her teenage years in Niagara-on-the-Lake where she developed her interest in the arts working in her mother's gallery. During her time at the gallery she met many Canadian artists and developed an appreciation for a diverse spectrum of techniques and artistic perspectives. After pursuing an Arts and Culture degree at Brock University Kristen moved to Toronto where she attended Ontario College of Art and Design University, majoring in painting.
She lives in Toronto with her two energetic children, and playful dog. Kristen Stephen has participated in many International and National art shows to date.

Exhibition History (CV)