The Horror Painting

Chris Stevens, a figurative painter, has been exhibiting regularly since graduating with a Fine Art degree from the University of Reading in 1978. Stevens' work centres on challenging media-driven stereotypes through his depictions of human figures. His paintings explore themes of identity, class, race, and gender within specific environments, weaving a narrative that forms a crucial element of his art. While focused on these social aspects, Stevens also pays attention to the abstract nature of painting and the expressive qualities of the medium itself. Rather than traditional portraiture, Stevens' subjects act as representatives of broader types. However, all his subjects are people he knows personally - friends, family, or casual acquaintances - which adds a layer of individual identity to what might otherwise be anonymous stereotypes. The figures are typically set against sparse backgrounds suggestive of decaying urban landscapes, with additional imagery introduced to enhance the narrative. Stevens has held solo exhibitions at various prestigious venues, including Beaux Arts and The PM Gallery in London, Smelik & Stokking and Galerie Rademakers in Amsterdam, the GlynnVivian Museum & Art Gallery in Swansea, and the Howard Gardens Gallery in Cardiff. He has also participated in notable group shows, such as "The Poetry of the Real" at Beaux Arts alongside artists like David Hockney and Frank Auerbach, and "REALITY" at the Sainsbury Centre and The Walker Art Gallery with Lucian Freud and others. His accolades include prizes in the BP Portrait Award, 50 over 50, and the Saatchi Gallery's Painted Faces exhibition. Stevens has also undertaken Arts Council residencies at Sunderland Football Club and Birmingham International Airport. Stevens' work features in public and private collections worldwide, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, The National Gallery of Wales, Unilever, and the Galerija Portreta in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in private collections across the UK, South Africa, USA, and Europe.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​