GOOD AZ GOLD
Altamira Fine Art Scottsdale is pleased to present a new exhibition for Utah artist Ben Steele, March 19-30, 2024.
Please join us for the Artist Reception Thursday, March 21st, 7-9pm and Meet the Artist.
Channeling the magic of trompe l’oeil (but not the deception), Ben Steele creates Surrealist scenarios that feel vital in their variety; they come across as authentic in spite of their ambiguity. Fresh perspectives seem possible amid big personalities.
Steele rides freely between art historical iconography and Western tropes—terrain of his own making. He keeps all these cultural currents in play, through play. He considers himself a storyteller, navigating narratives at once quirky and layered, open to infinite interpretations.
"This show felt like a chance to really explore many of the parts and pieces of Arizona as a state and landscape, thus the title 'Good AZ Gold'. I really enjoy doing regional themes in my work and although a couple pieces explore the west in general, several hit topics specific to Arizona.
The Tombstone Crayons touches on the idealistic Hollywood portrayals of real Arizona landmarks and events, while the 'wildlife of the desert' Crayon packs showcase the animals native to Arizona's diverse landscape. While Gold Rush Ranch features the Superstition Mountains and Arizona's piece of the western gold rush history, Andy's Motor Hotel places classic Warhol imagery into the familiar setting of an old route 66 hotel in Flagstaff.
Overall, creating the show was an engaging (and admittedly self indulgent) way for me to learn about places beyond my home state and synthesize that information into new visual stories." -Ben Steele.
Classically trained in painting, Steele found his voice by way of a crayon box: what began as an exercise—sketching Crayola—surprised him with their substantive characteristics, engaging color theory, formal aspects (composition, form, tone, texture, etc.), cultural history, even language in the form of winking labels. Crayons still make cameos.
Pre-sales available.