Stephan Balkenhol's totem-like sculptures of everyday people are reminiscent of both folk art and medieval sculpture. His figures emanate timelessness: simple, plain-colored clothing and the confident yet unassuming poses of familiar yet anonymous men and women who show no subjective feelings or emotions and contain no sociological or socio-critical references.
The artist uses a variety of woods, such as poplar, Douglas fir and wawa wood, and hand carves each piece from a single block using hammers, power saws and chisels, leaving behind shavings and traces visible in the wood, with its knots, grain, and cracks. He then uses paint to structure the sculpture and accentuate the anatomy, without in any way heightening the figure's expressiveness. His human figures are never polished to waxy smoothness and artifice – just like humans, they would not be unique without imperfections. The rough surfaces and cuts create a sense of life force hidden inside seemingly apathetic human's faces, reflecting artist's spirit and faith in humanity.