Kharis from the collection of South Carolina Arts Commission

Discovery

Steven Gately
Kharis, 1976
acrylic painting
52 x 32.5 in

The painting Kharis is composed; it is a deliberate balance of textures, light and dark, form and color in different areas of the canvas. This is unusual only in the sense that it contrasts with much of my previous work, which was based mainly on centered, symmetrical, emblematic motifs; simple, bright color contrasts and flat surfaces. It also represents a changing technique being one of the first pictures I have produced using an airbrush and spray gun, although the medium remains acrylic paint. Experiment is essential to my work as is my reliance on geometry, and I would therefore hope that the painting combines the stability of tradition with the element of discovery.

Collections: South Carolina Arts Commission State Art Collection

See all artwork from South Carolina Arts Commission

The mission of the South Carolina Arts Commission is to promote access to the arts and support the cultivation of creativity in South Carolina. We envision a South Carolina where the arts are valued and all people benefit from a variety of creative experiences.

A state agency created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the SCAC works to increase public participation in the arts through grants, direct programs, staff assistance and partnerships in artist development, arts industry, arts learning, creative placemaking, and folklife and traditional arts. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the SCAC is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts, and other sources.

South Carolina Arts Commission

Columbia, South Carolina