Stephanie Henderson creates stunningly haunting surrealist paintings of skulls, pearls, and even children blowing bubbles rendered in a classical manner. Check out the interview with Stephanie below.
Art Nouveau Magazine: When did you know you were an artist?
SH: I do not know when I wasn’t an artist.
ANM: Tell me about your background in the arts? Did you attend school?
SH: I attended Ringling Art School in Sarasota, FL after receiving a scholarship through NY’s Scholastic Art Competition. I graduated from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI.
ANM: Describe your artwork to someone who has never seen it.
SH: My paintings are considered surrealistic and rendered in a classic manner. The colors are rich. The content is personal and symbolic. I try to make them as beautiful as my craft allows. Each painting takes a long time to create.
ANM: What if any statement are you trying to make with your artwork?
SH: It is nothing more or less than a diary of my thoughts and feelings at the time. I think a lot about the meaning of and circle of life.
ANM: Your work has many recurring symbols of death, like skulls, what is the meaning behind that?
SH: It is more a celebration of the spirit of humanity, death having no dominion (Dylan Thomas) and no mercy. The “I was here” and eternal continuity of life in nature are recurrent concepts in my work. I think about metaphysics and the new hypotheses, as well as the dialogue about the art of describing, the “experiments” of Dutch Art, how we see things and the commodification of things that are inherently spiritual. The nature of time, “time’s arrow”, endurantism and perdurantism are all very interesting to me. There are fascinating stories about skulls and the Knights of Templar, the Holy Grail, etc. Duality.
ANM: What’s your favorite medium to use?
SH: Oils.
ANM: Who are some artists that inspired your work?
SH: When I was very young, I was inspired by Salvador Dali. Now the inspiration runs far and wide.
ANM: What’s next for you?
SH: I will be showing at Last Rites Gallery in NY in a Group Show, the 13th Hour, opening October 24th and have a solo there November 2010.
ANM: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?
SH: I sincerely thank you for having interest in my work!
For everything Stephanie Henderson click here.
GREATeclectic aka Kendrick Daye is a DJ, artist and the Editor of Art Nouveau Magazine. As a freelance journalist and photographer his work has been featured in the NY Times Magazine, Ebony Magazine, Upscale Magazine, Creative Loafing, Honeymag.com & Yo-Raps.com.
