Steven Walker: This Round’s on Me

July 25th - August 22nd, 2020

This Round’s On Me is a personal series by Steven Walker showing the fragility he faced with depression and anxiety. The objects within the glass focus on pleasant, successful or even funny memories in his life- contrasted with the fragile state of the glass vessel. This year Steven has pledged to be more transparent about his condition and has shared the storiess behind each of these works on his Instagram Page. He wants to show those suffering from depression that they are not alone.

Artist Statement:

Most people know me for my illuminating landscapes and nocturnal paintings but this body of work focuses on my battle with depression / anxiety through still life works.  As someone who battles and has seen the effects of depression, I know how hard it is to focus on the good times while you’re drowning in your own angst.  The glass container is a constant because of its fragility and my fragility towards depression / anxiety. Each glass includes an object that represents a pleasant, successful or even funny memory in my life.    

I’ve made it a point to be more transparent about my condition this year.  With that in mind, the pieces that I have shared thus far on Instagram and Facebook include a story that discusses origin of the concept of each painting. 

My plan is to exhibit the work through out the country in art centers and depression clinics to help those who have a loved one suffering from depression to understand.  It’s also meant to let those folks like me understand that they are not alone.

Bio:

“I didn’t come from a family of artists, I wasn’t top of my class or win a lot of awards but I’ve always had a strong work ethic and the passion to work on my craft.”

Born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and raised in Richmond, Virginia he discovered his love for art at a very early age. With little interest in anything else, Steven took the next big step towards his pursuit of a career in art when he earned his bachelor’s degree in fine arts at Virginia Commonwealth University. He would later earn his masters in fine arts from Marywood University, where he also met his wife/ fellow artist Evelyn.

Instant success was not in the cards as Steven continued showing at a string of coffee shops, libraries and other businesses.Eventually his hard work paid off with a few local awards that soon caught the attention of two gallery owners. Since his venture into gallery life, his landscapes have been well received by collectors as his paintings are part of several private collections such as Airstream Inc., Hilton Hotels, the Boy Scouts of America, Dominion Resources, Virginia State Department, the National Parks Service, the Columbus Convention Center and the United States Air Force. Since going full time as an artist in 2008, Steven has been included in several local and national juried competitions including the Richeson 75 Landscape Competition, Plein Air Salon, the International Salon Competition, the Oil Painters of America Salon and the Art Renewal Center.

Steven also had the privilege of being a part of a statewide traveling exhibition with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He has participated in several artist in residency programs in Michigan, Indiana, Iowa and Colorado. In 2014, he was selected to create the Ohio Governor’s Art Awards by the Ohio Arts Council and in 2015 he received honorable mention in the Southwest Art Magazine’s Artistic Excellence Competition.

Steven currently resides in Hahira, Georgia where he continues to work hard on the advancement of his career, with the assistance of his lovely wife Evelyn and studio assistant/daughter Poppy. Currently, his work is represented in Kentucky, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C.