Stephen Abela

Joined Artfinder: Sept. 2013

Artworks for sale: 229

(18)

Canada

About Stephen Abela

 
 
  • Biography
    My recent work is almost summed up by a quote from the photographer, Slim Aarons: “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.’’ I am drawn to holiday and leisure scenes, like those by Aaron. I am attracted to the mix of nostalgia and ‘Luxe, Calme et Volupté’ in these depictions of leisure. Here is a place where people are partly naked, relaxed and often unaware of themselves; perhaps more ‘natural’ than in other situations. 

    The process of working with an image that has personal appeal because it reminds me of some distant past, appeals to me as much as the beauty of the scene itself, as well as the edited visions from my own memories. I find it difficult to separate nostalgia from the purely aesthetic. In many ways this makes the subject matter I select problematic and challenging for me, as it is a personal iconography wrapped up in a clichéd beauty.



  • Links
  • Education

    1988 - 1991

    Concordia University Montreal Canada

    1986 - 1989

    University of Guelph Ontario Canada

    1983 - 1984

    Sheridan College Ontario Canada

  • Awards

    1994

    Warner Lambert Printmaking award

    Printmaking award -University of Guelph, Canada

    Show more awards Hide

    1993

    University of Guelph Annual Juried Art Show

    First Prize: University of Guelph Annual Juried Art Show Guelph, Canada

    1991

    St Henri Outdoor Art Exhibition

    Third Prize: St Henri Outdoor Art Exhibition Montreal, Canada.
  • Upcoming Events

    There are no upcoming events

    Show previous events Hide previous events

    Previous events

    Event: Horizons

    Dates: 16 Jun 2015 - 27 Jun 2015

    Venue: NudeTinCan Gallery, St Albans Hertfordshire UK

    Group show with a landscape theme

    Event: Threadneedle prize art exhibition 2013

    Dates: 26 Sep 2013 - 10 Oct 2013

    Venue: Mall Galleries, London

    Visit the exhibition at the Mall Galleries in Central London in 2013 and vote for your favorite work of art. All works are for sale.

    OPENING TIMES
    Daily 10am - 5pm
    ADMISSION -Free

    Mall Galleries, The Mall, SW1
    Underground: Charing Cross (2 minutes walk), Piccadilly Circus (5 minutes walk), Embankment (5 minutes walk)

    Event: Metaphysical Objectivity in Comparison to Realism

    Dates: 15 Apr 2013 - 10 May 2013

    Venue: Lloyd Gill Gallery, Weston-Super-Mare

    Group show of 5 artists
    Preview: 13th April 2013
    Exhibitions dates: 15th April - 10th May

Links


Education

1988 - 1991

Concordia University Montreal Canada

1986 - 1989

University of Guelph Ontario Canada

1983 - 1984

Sheridan College Ontario Canada


Awards

1994

Warner Lambert Printmaking award

Printmaking award -University of Guelph, Canada

Show more awards Hide

1993

University of Guelph Annual Juried Art Show

First Prize: University of Guelph Annual Juried Art Show Guelph, Canada

1991

St Henri Outdoor Art Exhibition

Third Prize: St Henri Outdoor Art Exhibition Montreal, Canada.

There are no upcoming events

Show previous events Hide previous events

Previous events

Event: Horizons

Dates: 16 Jun 2015 - 27 Jun 2015

Venue: NudeTinCan Gallery, St Albans Hertfordshire UK

Group show with a landscape theme

Event: Threadneedle prize art exhibition 2013

Dates: 26 Sep 2013 - 10 Oct 2013

Venue: Mall Galleries, London

Visit the exhibition at the Mall Galleries in Central London in 2013 and vote for your favorite work of art. All works are for sale.

OPENING TIMES
Daily 10am - 5pm
ADMISSION -Free

Mall Galleries, The Mall, SW1
Underground: Charing Cross (2 minutes walk), Piccadilly Circus (5 minutes walk), Embankment (5 minutes walk)

Event: Metaphysical Objectivity in Comparison to Realism

Dates: 15 Apr 2013 - 10 May 2013

Venue: Lloyd Gill Gallery, Weston-Super-Mare

Group show of 5 artists
Preview: 13th April 2013
Exhibitions dates: 15th April - 10th May


 

Biography

My recent work is almost summed up by a quote from the photographer, Slim Aarons: “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.’’ I am drawn to holiday and leisure scenes, like those by Aaron. I am attracted to the mix of nostalgia and ‘Luxe, Calme et Volupté’ in these depictions of leisure. Here is a place where people are partly naked, relaxed and often unaware of themselves; perhaps more ‘natural’ than in other situations. 

The process of working with an image that has personal appeal because it reminds me of some distant past, appeals to me as much as the beauty of the scene itself, as well as the edited visions from my own memories. I find it difficult to separate nostalgia from the purely aesthetic. In many ways this makes the subject matter I select problematic and challenging for me, as it is a personal iconography wrapped up in a clichéd beauty.