Home | Artwork | Artist Statement | Exhibitions | Bio | Articles | Contact

stephen linsteadt

Of Sky and Earth #41 l Stephen Linsteadt

Of Sky and Earth #41 (Blue Planet), oil on canvas, 193 x 212 cm, 2020 - $7200

The painting depicts a post-climate-change Earth, bearing the marks of humanity's inaction. The canvas is dominated by the vibrant contrast of rich earthy red and verdant green, colors that evoke both vitality and struggle. At the heart of the artwork, children are portrayed as ethereal figures: half-formed, transparent, and enigmatic, as if suspended in a state of uncertainty akin to Schrodinger's cat. They are the guardians of a precarious future, caught in the tension between fleeing a failed, materialistic world and running toward the possibility of a new, compassionate and humane existence.

Sunflowers, resilient and iconic, punctuate the composition, their bold blooms symbolizing hope amidst the turmoil. The ambiguity of the children's direction invites viewers to contemplate their own roles in shaping Earth's fate. Is humanity moving toward renewal or retreat? The painting holds the answer just out of reach, allowing the viewer to be a participant in the narrative rather than a passive observer.


Copyright © 2020 Stephen Linsteadt. All rights reserved.