ARTIST & PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID STESNER
David Stesner is an accomplished, classically-trained artist whose work in mixed media has distinguished him as one of the most promising talents in his field. Born and raised in New Jersey, Stesner was drawn to photography at just 10 years old and never looked back. After graduating from University of the Arts in Philadelphia with his BFA, he went on to assist photographers like Albert Watson, Steve Hiett and Michael Thompson while continuing to explore other mediums like painting, graffiti, sketching and sculpting. A talent for creating portraits of subjects as varied as celebrities and fashion models soon led to collaborations with magazines like Allure, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, French Glamour and French Elle, as well as many European and Asian publications and advertising campaigns.
His decade-long series, “The Butterfly Project,” is a reflection of the symbolism and allure of the species, which the artist re-imagines with the deft hand and appreciation of beauty that has marked his brilliant career. The series is a true representation of Stesner’s repertoire of abilities: painting, embossing, photography, and digital editing, which he uses to create movement while juxtaposing realism with surrealism and abstraction Stesner’s pieces are generally either acrylic mounted or applied to canvas with embellishments using different gel mediums, acrylic paints, ink paints, or diamond dust.
Inspired by a duality of life moments – the death of his sister, Barbara, and birth of his daughter, Blake – “the pieces I am creating are not just about butterflies, but are representative of human qualities — harmony, joy, relationships, actions and emotions,” says Stesner. More recently, Stesner has incorporated luxury brand logos – most famously Louis Vuitton’s celebrated “LV” – into his art, a nod to his background in commercial fashion photography. “Fashion is an art form in itself and can be displayed in different mediums, including how I am displaying it in my work,” the artist elaborates. “With this project I wanted to go more urban and pop. Brands today, especially in luxury, are intermixing culture, art and commerce, and I think this project illustrates that combination on a visual level.” The result is a collection of pieces that have been hailed as audacious, imaginative, and inquisitive—pieces that have gained acclaim and curiosity of galleries around the world that have invited him to showcase his work.
Stesner’s work is currently exhibited in over 40 galleries across the world, including Cobra Art’s Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Dusseldorf locations, Clarendon Galleries of the UK, Cloud Gallery “ (also of the UK), Luxxe Gallery of Dubai, Pitero Hecht in Tel Aviv, New York City’s Gallery 23, and DuPar Luxury Cars & Art. Moreover, Stesner’s art is part of the St. Regis Hotel’s permanent collection in Doha, Qatar, has been collected by various royal families around the world, and was recently featured in “Back to Black,” the Amy Winehouse Movie. Stesner has also committed various philanthropic causes, collaborating with the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (OCRFA) to raise money for cancer research as part of an exhibit with Manhattan Motorcars and Lamborghini of New York City. He has also donated a number of pieces to school auctions to benefit early childhood education. David resides in New York City with his wife, Deanna, their son, Shane, and their daughter, Blake.