Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9

Stephen Basso
white mink, oil painting of urban scene, w snow, music reference in shadow

2004

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
  • Creator:
    Stephen Basso (1953, American)
  • Creation Year:
    2004
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 55 in (139.7 cm)Width: 37 in (93.98 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU133915700281
More From This SellerView All
You May Also Like
  • No Photos Please
    By Todd White
    Located in Toronto, ON
    42" x 31" Unframed Original - Oil on Canvas Hand Signed by Todd White Todd white captures restaurant, night and Hollywood scenes with contrasting colors serving the viewer’s eyes a...
    Category

    2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Haven
    By Mark Lavatelli
    Located in Buffalo, NY
    An original oil on canvas diptych by American contemporary artist Mark Lavatelli created in 1996. 72" X 122"
    Category

    1990s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • They found the pike but it wasn’t alone
    By Dorothy Fitzgerald
    Located in Buffalo, NY
    An original oil, oil stick and charcoal diptych painting on canvas by Contemporary female artist Dorothy Fitzgerald. This monumental work measures 60" (h) x 120" (w) This work was featured in the recent exhibition of The Corridors Gallery at Hotel Henry...
    Category

    2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil

  • C'est le Passe que Nous Attendons
    By Théo Tobiasse
    Located in Long Island City, NY
    An oil painting by Theo Tobiasse from 1967. An expressionist-style textural painting of intensely dark and vivid color palette. Inspired from the artist's personal experiences of the...
    Category

    1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

  • Le triomphe de la mort, 2000, oil on canvas by Jean Jansem
    By Jean Jansem
    Located in Carouge GE, GE
    Jean Jansem (1920-2013) Le triomphe de la mort, 2000 Huile sur toile Signée en bas à gauche et à droite 150 x 200 cm Bibliographie: Cette oeuvre est enregistrée dans les archives de l’Association des Amis de Jean Jansem. Figurera dans le catalogue critique de l’oeuvre de Jean Jansem actuellement en préparation par l’association des amis de Jean Jansem Historique: L’indigence d’après-guerre et la difficulté inhérente de trouver les matériaux adéquats et/ou habituels, telles les couleurs, très onéreuses alors, ont poussé les artistes figuratifs de l’après-guerre, en corrélation avec les préoccupations de l’époque, à redéfinir les paradigmes de la représentation. Il n’est plus question de chercher un sens mais bien pour les artistes d'étudier l’objet pour son intérêt formel, sa qualité intrinsèque. Le regard de l’artiste devient analytique et dépeint alors l’objet pour ce qu’il est et non plus pour son pouvoir évocateur ou symbolique. La nature morte n’est plus une invitation sensuelle à la ripaille, la pomme ou la pêche n’évoque aucune envie de croquer, la cruche aucune ivresse, la volaille...
    Category

    Late 20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • La salle de répétition de l'opéra de Paris, 1968, oil on canvas by Jean Jansem
    By Jean Jansem
    Located in Carouge GE, GE
    Jean Jansem (1920-2013) La salle de répétition de l’Opéra de Paris, 1968 Huile sur toile Signée en bas à gauche 130 x 195 cm Provenance: Wally Findlay Galleries, New York Bibliographie: Cette oeuvre est enregistrée dans les archives de l’Association des Amis de Jean Jansem. Figurera dans le catalogue critique de l’oeuvre de Jean Jansem actuellement en préparation par l’association des amis de Jean Jansem Historique: 1964: c’est l’inauguration du nouveau plafond du Palais Garnier par Marc Chagall commandé par André Malraux alors ministre chargé des affaires culturelles. Commande qui fera couler beaucoup d’encre entre les partisans du modernisme et les tenants du conservatisme. Malraux tiendra bon, si ce n’est une légère concession: pour éviter de détruire l'ancien plafond et son décor, il sera masqué par une toile amovible de quelques 240m2 réalisée par Chagall dans les ateliers des Gobelins puis tendue par-dessus. Cette commande, autant acte politique que intellectuel, intervient à une époque où Malraux, convaincu que l’art contribue au rayonnement international de la France, soutiendra notamment les commandes du Mobilier national dont Pierre Paulin sera l’une des grandes figures, et où la CGT (Compagnie générale transatlantique) lancera un de ses plus gros chantiers avec le mythique paquebot France...
    Category

    Late 20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

Recently Viewed

View All