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Stephen Basso
Tattooed Bouquet combination still life and figurative genres soft green tomes

2025

About the Item

ABOUT Stephen Basso Stephen Basso's highly original pastels and oil paintings are romantic, yet thought provoking fantasies. His whimsical works are alive with boundless imagination, wry wit and fearless color. His shrewd social observations often translate into eerily humorous figurative scenes and narratives. Mr. Basso’s works evoke a high level of inquiry. The fanciful, yet keenly observed characters are unpredictable and evocative. The viewer vacillates between surprise, delight, and consternation. A Brooklyn native, much of Basso's wildly imaginative artwork was inspired by travel to Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and especially Mexico. Basso is particularly drawn to Latin American art, channeling its mix of Western and African influences and imagery into his vibrant, often surrealistic work. Combining a New York and a Mexican sensibility, he says of his work, "There is a natural surreal quality to Mexico that can collide with its harsh realities. One might call it bittersweet. It is often bawdy, but rarely vulgar, and images are everywhere. Love, hate, fear desire and of course, humor, never go out of style.” And he adds, " I like mixing high ideals with American irreverence." The elements of mystery, escapism, and humor blended with reality define his art. It is of a personal nature consisting of a cast of characters that inhabit the stage between the extreme highs and lows of life, a state of limbo where dreamlike scenarios are often pulled back to the reality of daily existence. Of his process, Mr. Basso says, "The paintings and drawings begin with objects around my home and studio, photos from various sources, and people I know, have known, or have yet to meet." By in large, Basso is self taught. (After initially attending the School of Visual Arts for Illustration, he realized painting was more engaging for him.) Seeking emotional honesty, he looked to the work of several "mentors": Max Beckmann, Francisco Goya, Willem de Kooning , Philip Guston , Marsden Hartley and Albert Pinkham Ryder - artists that spoke to the human condition.
  • Creator:
    Stephen Basso (1953, American)
  • Creation Year:
    2025
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 27 in (68.58 cm)Width: 19 in (48.26 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1339115946402

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Big Fruit Nude, colorful, imaginative nude with fruit on pastel on toned paper
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*ABOUT Stephen Basso Stephen Basso's highly original pastels and oil paintings are romantic, yet thought provoking fantasies. His whimsical works are alive with boundless imagina...
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This part of a series titled Restless Still Lie by the artist depicting everyday objects engaged in some particular drama hence the title. It is soft pastel on toned archival sanded...
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Silent Fragrance female bust sculpture assorted chrysanthemum flower bouquet.
By Stephen Basso
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ABOUT Stephen Basso Stephen Basso's highly original pastels and oil paintings are romantic, yet thought provoking fantasies. His whimsical works are alive with boundless imaginat...
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2010s Post-Modern Still-life Drawings and Watercolors

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Steamed Eggplant still life with sicilian eggplant and mustard color kettle
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Tower of Glamour fanciful still life hats mirror and colorful sunglasses
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This pastel is part of an ongoing series referred to restless still life in which the artist embodies inanimate objects with a life of their own. It is signed and dated on the bottom...
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2010s Neo-Expressionist Still-life Drawings and Watercolors

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Tower of Glamour. Still life bright colors hats sunglasses and mirror subject
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