Bringing Harmony: The Artwork of Helene Steene
In 2022 Helene Steene won the CODAaward in the Educational Category. Receiving this award led to her first visit to a CODAsummit and the introduction to a new group of very talented and creative people, discovering new ways and opportunities to transfer her paintings to a scale earlier not possible in her studio. She says, “The wonder of seeing my 7 foot tall “Moon Sentinel” translated to a 55 foot tall LED installation glowing from blocks away was an eye opener”. So Steene is looking forward to working together with those having the know-how to make this happen again in other places.
Many of her works have an architectural feel because of the texture and linear elements, some of them based on the idea of Greek wall frescos, using marble dust and sand. Then being combined with her lush colors built up with numerous translucent layers using dry mineral pigments in oil glazes over marble dust. Her works are sometimes combined with industrial metal for a contemporary look.
Steene can see this easily translated to rich translucencies in glass or texture with mosaic as large architectural works. Another group of her works she feels would translate well, are the large circular forms based on her more meditative type of work. Having met talented people with the solutions for large scale works has certainly inspired Steene to a new way of looking at ideas!
Her mixed media works have been shown in three solo museum exhibits and large paintings can be found at the Mayo Clinic in MN as well as in University of Kentucky Hospital, and other Kentucky businesses, as well as in many private homes around the world.
“Steene’s luminous layers of colors and intuitively balanced structure are reminiscent of
Rothko’s luminous paintings. Her visual subtleties slow down the viewing process and
contribute to an overall sense of harmony and inner peace, one that serves as an
antidote to today’s fast-paced, chaotic world.”
Jane S. Peters, Professor Emerita, Art History & Visual Studies,
University of Kentucky, USA
“Call Steene’s paintings the fusion of geometry and grace, which probes and pierces
or let us say we gaze out from the eye of light itself.”
Peter Abbs, Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing,
University of Sussex, Great Britain
Regarding her work Steene says “Whether my work is abstract, non-objective or figurative, there is always a search for something that signifies a subtle inner beauty, depth and simplicity even when the forms are complex. I am intrigued by the tension between, forms, lines and colors that ultimately can resolve in harmony. Sometimes, this is achieved with more obvious forms, and sometimes, with a delicate balance attempting to give substance to the space that exists precisely because there are no objects.
“If my work can slow someone down to contemplate something within her or himself – if it can add a moment of focus on their inner peace in this absurd world – then I have reached the viewer. We, the viewer and the mark maker, would be connected through that ephemeral magic that is all around, as I am convinced that one’s range of intellect is so trivial in the face of greater mysteries.”
Some of Steene’s work can be found at CODAworx, and for additional information please visit www.helenesteene.com or contact her directly at [email protected].