Altamira Fine Art in Scottsdale, AZ is pleased to present an exhibition of new work by Ben Steele January 28-February 8, 2025.
Please join us for the Reception and Meet the Artist during ArtWalk on Thursday, January 30th from 7-9pm.
Art Distilled
“I'm really interested in exploring the iconic aspects of the area where the work is going to be exhibited. I found myself wanting to explore more of what makes Arizona and the Southwest an incredibly unique and dynamic region. I'm enjoying the visual of a distillery as I work through the pieces; how someone extracts from a grain, fruit or vegetable, and the basic essence of the object now takes on a new form. Hopefully, my art feels like that.” - Ben Steele
Ben Steele paints in conversation with his classical training, allowing him to respond to modern life through the tropes and techniques of the Old Masters. Ever experimenting with subject matter and composition, he allows the realism of trompe l’oeil to layer with Pop retorts and contemporary comebacks. In Art Distilled, the artist explores the drama and the dynamism of the Southwest, giving nods to the famous movies that were filmed in the region. “My first painting set the tone for the show being called Art Distilled. The piece Distilled in Arizona has three liquor bottles, all with western movie themed labels that were filmed in or are about Arizona.”, says Steele.
Exploring a wide range of subjects while staying true to his style keeps things fresh for collectors as well as for the artist. “It's the most freeing part about my work, that I get to move around a lot and the work still looks like it's mine. It's thrilling that I get to paint a lot of different things, whether it's famous artwork, movies, or the Grand Canyon, and the pieces can still synthesize together as a connected grouping. That constant change gets me back to the studio every day because I never know where the next idea is going to take me.”
At the University of Utah, Steele Studied under the painter and sculptor David Dornan and continued to apprentice with him and Paul Davis through the Helper Workshops. The coal and railroad town that served as the setting for his intensive training remains his home today. Steele’s work can be found in notable collections including Raymond James Financial Art Collection, Steve Carell, Dan Patrick, Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, Fred Couples, The San Francisco Giants’ executive offices and multiple Delta Airline Sky Club lounges throughout the United States. His work has been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur, American Art Collector and Southwest Art Magazines, as well as the Artbeat Podcast with Kathryn M. Davis.
Pre-sales are available. Contact the gallery for details, 480-949-1256/ az@altamiraart.com.
