Steffen Bue

"The Heart Of America I" Bison Bull Buffalo Charcoal Drawing, Steffen Bue

2023

Steffen Bue is a contemporary artist known for his paintings that invite viewers into a worldof visual contexts, shapes, and colors. Born in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark in 1944, Bue pursued a career in graphics and design after completing his education in the 1960s. In 1978, he co-founded an agency where he served as a Creative Director throughout his commercial career. However, as his passion for his own artwork grew, Bue began working with paintings on canvas and copperplate engravings. Bue's unique approach involves working freely and spontaneously with what he observes. His commercial career allowed him to develop skills in graphical printing and typographical practices, which matured his craft of creating collages and sensing of visual context. This competence enables Steffen Bue to take artistic liberty and rework the scenes he experiences, as if life itself were a collage, in pursuit of awakening new shapes, interpretations, and expressions.

Thematically, Bue's art mainly features natural scenery and collages, with a balance between abstract and naturalism. Nature serves as the starting point for his creations, providing endless inspiration with its range of colors and details. His compositions often feature somber and earthy colors in line with classical art.

“In my work, I hope I can communicate a feeling of the power of nature in a way that’s new and intense. I see my art as a never-ending tour in my life, adopting all I see, and all I experience. I’m always on the road.” - Steffen Bue (2023).

In addition to his work as an artist, Bue has shared his knowledge and skills by teaching drawing and painting to groups of artists in Argeles sur Mer, France. He has had solo exhibitions in Argeles sur Mer and group exhibitions in Paris alongside other Scandinavian artists. Steffen Bue works from his atelier in Hoersholm, a Copenhagen suburb.

[Biography provided by Gadé Allure]