Hugo Galerie is thrilled to present a solo exhibition of new work by American artist Brian Keith Stephens. Stephens (b.1973) draws on his classical painting background to create playfully proportioned images of animals and landscapes. The paintings, rich with bold colors, thickly layered paint and visible brush strokes, depict simple subject matter from his childhood in rural Connecticut embedded with profound emotion. Whimsical and bright, Stephens’ paintings are full of energy and vitality.

Stephens' oil on canvas paintings are mysterious dreamscapes, where animals and humans are presented with equal care, overlaid over colorful, abstracted backgrounds. In Stephens' world, animals often dominate the composition, at times enlarged to many times their size. They are endowed with a tangible wisdom, respect and kindness. In this world, the wild animals are not dangerous but instead are treated as emotional equivalents to the human subjects; they dance and play alongside the people. Stephen’s endless curiosity and passion for the natural world is palpable in his work.

Stephens attended Western Connecticut State University, where he discovered his passion for art. He continued his education at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, where he graduated in 1998. He then attended the Academie de la Grande Chaumier in Paris and received a Masters of Fine Art in Painting from the City College of New York in 2004. Stephens has exhibited in Germany, France, Denmark and across the U.S. The artist will attend the opening reception on Saturday, September 9 at Hugo Galerie.