For the artist, painting is a medium of storytelling and subversion. Multiple hidden references, ranging from Old Master paintings to Pop Culture, punctuate his canvases. 'As I got into painting and studied art history, I found myself attracted to works by artists who pushed the boundaries of the human form in a more expressive and interesting manner than the comic books I had been looking at previously. These artists span different movements and eras, and I casually refer to their work with the catch-all term "Weird Figuration." Schiele, Dix, Grosz, Balthus, El Greco, Ingres, Ensor, and Alice Neel are but a few of them. I like to think of my work as a continuation of this long-running tradition and, hopefully, adding something new to it'.
Read MoreHis paintings are a reflection of another reality that only exists in Stegner’s head, suggesting the artist’s own truth which is free of rules and the restrictions of realistic art. Jansson Stegner is based in Santa Barbara. 'I guess my paintings are the opposite of portraits. They are not a reflection of reality, but a suggestion of what reality could be'. – Jansson
Text courtesy Almine Rech.