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Artist Exhibitions:
2006 Broadway Gallery, New
York, NY (September)
2005 Art Basel Miami Beach,
Miami Beach, FL
2005 Association of
Independent Video and
Filmmakers, New York, NY
2005 Los Angeles Center For
Digital Art, Los Angeles, CA
2004 Starving Artists Ball,
New York, NY, Installation
2004 Borders, 461 Park Ave.,
New York, ...
Further Information
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Artist Galleries:
The Bridgeman Art Library, New
York, Paris, London, Berlin
(nonexclusive licensing
Agent)...
Further Information
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Artist Reviews:
PRESS
RELEASE
New York, New York - At Art
Basel Miami Beach, New York
Arts Magazine will project a
video that includes artist
Stephen Spiller's photographs
and text rejecting the
November 11, 2005 message of
Conservative Christian
televangelist Pat Robertson,
founder of the Christian
Broadcasting Network and
Christian Coalition.
Robertson...
Further Information
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Collections:
Selected Private Collections
Guy Glass, MD., Erwinna, PA,
USA; Peter & Phyllis Klein,
Fiesole, Italy; Bart Greenhut,
Malibu, CA, USA; Cheryl
Carter-Pierce, Spruce Head,
ME, USA; Michael & Kathie
Gordon, Los Angeles, CA, USA;
Rhoda Urman, New York, NY,
USA; Nadia Klein, New York,
NY, USA; Alan Eisenberg &
Claire Copley, New ...
Further Information
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Commissions:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Statement for Stephen Spiller
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STATEMENT (Bio & Resume follow)
In a persistent effort to develop a sense of self, and to relate to others, we continuously send and invite messages predicated on how we dress, decorate our bodies, and behave.
Capturing those messages in images is the starting point for me. From there I’m interested in puzzling out their meaning, first as to the individuals photographed, then in a larger cultural context. I’m attracted to the idea of encouraging viewers to recognize aspects of themselves in others, acknowledge feelings as a common-denominator language and, most importantly, value their unconscious.
My photographs are made in public spaces. There, realities like sadness, sexual desire, anger, shame, etc. are often hidden. Presentation and image rule while feelings and emotions are repressed because gold stars go to the “mature”. Clothing, behavior, and body decorations speak to the real story. What’s visible is metaphor and the meaning is subjective.
Because spontaneity encourages honesty and immediacy I shoot on instinct, often without even aiming my camera. I’m looking for performance broadcasting meaning. I’m drawn to what‘s sexy or obnoxious, gorgeous or ugly, or just plain weird. I connect viscerally with people I’d hate to be, or love to be. Those I envy or those who infuriate me. The ones who make me sad or jealous. Whether I feel something is the litmus test on whether to shoot or not.
Occasionally I write text accompanying the messages photographed. My words can be a gambit supplying a voice as I imagine it laced with private emotion.
BIOGRAPHY
I’ve been making pictures for about fifteen years and still think about why photography is so compelling, particularly taking pictures of people. When I began photographing, I shot everything: animals, flowers, buildings, sports, ocean waves crashing on the shore, frogs in a pond, food, people, dishes, fur coats, weeds, airplanes, flying birds that printed as tiny dots - whatever I saw. And while all those things still interest me (well, maybe not the dot birds), it’s my enthusiasm for shooting people that endures; indeed, it seems more intense than ever.
I often asked myself: Who are all the people I photograph? What are they to me? I don’t even know them!
There finally came a day when I realized the answer. It was a eureka moment! A passionate one. They’re the people I hate, of course. And the one’s I envy. The one’s I ridicule, and the one’s I’m jealous of. The one’s I lust for and wish I could make love to, and those who repulse me. The one’s I feel superior to, and the other’s who scare me. Those I’d love to spy on and tell stories about their sex lives, or at least read about who’s screwing who. Some I curse at. Some I admire. Others I ridicule. They’re all out there for the looking, and the daydreaming too.
It’s taken me a long time to get to this place. There’s more to learn, of course. But here’s what I know so far. I’m human. My feelings often happen spontaneously, without conscious effort, and they’re organic. Universality exists, connecting people so how I act in any given situation isn't unique to me.
My art begins in public spaces where I photograph displays of spontaneous behavior.
Private thoughts and intimate feelings occupy a lot of my time; they’re universally experienced but sparingly shared.
If I could just find ways that exhibit hidden emotions as a common-denominator language and make that language better understood. What terrific art that’d be.
How people dress themselves, adorn their bodies, and behave is language you can see, easily visible but so easily misunderstood too. It’s simple to understand what a political protest is all about. But what is her costume saying? His preening? Her lipstick? His tattoos?
Understanding all that is important to me. And I know why. Because it’s about life and how to live it.
RESUME
Selected Exhibitions
1993 Longwood Gardens, West Chester, PA
2004 Soho Photo 2004 National Competition, juried Exhibit, Lyle
Rexer, Juror, Soho Photo Gallery, New York, NY
2004 Borders Books and Music, New York, NY
2004 Starving Artist Ball, New York, NY
2005 Los Angeles Center For Digital Art, Los Angeles, CA
2005 Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers, New York, NY
2005 Art Basel Miami Beach, Miami Beach, FL
2006 Broadway Gallery, New York, NY (September)
Private Collections
1994 Cheryl Carter-Pierce: Baltimore, MD
1995-7 Ronald Fenstermacher: West Chester, PA
1997/8 Bart Greenhut: Malibu, CA
1998/9 Michael and Kathy Gordon: Los Angeles, CA
2003 Peter and Phyllis Klein: Fiesole, Italy
2003 Rhoda M. Urman: New York, NY
2004 Richard and Jane Abrams: Pacific Palisades, CA
Robert and Sherri Sternberg: Calabases, CA
David Herman: Beverly Hills, CA
Nadia Klein: New York, NY
2005 Guy Glass, M.D., Erwinna, PA; Claire Copley and Alan
Eisenberg: New York, NY
Representation
2005 The Bridgeman Art Library (nonexclusive licensing agent)
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