top of page
about IMAGE.jpg

Bio and CV

ESSAY BY JOHN SEED, John Natsoulas Press 2015

The works of artist Myron Stephens are best understood as stories that open up conversations between the artist and his audience.  With a varied mixture of ingredients - including nostalgic images, snippets of text and trompe l'oeil realism - Stephens cooks up open-ended narratives that invite speculation.  Each painting is a doorway to the artist's individual experiences and perceptions, offered up as expressions of aesthetic connection and friendship.  An exceptionally talented painter who interweaves trompe l'oeil with a modernist approach to his subject matter, Myron Stephens is a leading narrative artist and also contemporary myth maker...

Myron Stephens has a unique ability to put his ideas on the line with candor, vulnerability and humor.  He also works with remarkable egolessness, and is open to the idea that others may understand his meanings better than he might.  "It's funny," Stephens philosophizes, "because I have heard people looking at my paintings and interpreting them at art openings, and what they find sometimes seems more true to my intentions than my original concepts."  What people like best about Myron Stephens' art - its generosity and openness - are the very qualities that the artist carries with him into the studio and into his life.

CV

MYRON STEPHENS

myron@myronsart.com | Instagram: @myronsart | Twitter: @myronsart | Facebook: @MyronStephens

Myron Stephens is a Northern California artist.  He was born and raised in the Bay Area and currently lives with his wife, paints, and teaches art in the Sacramento Area.

EDUCATION


1992 Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art California State University, Chico – Chico, CA

AWARDS 

2003 2nd Place in Painting, Haggin Museum – Stockton, CA
1998 Best of Show, James Kaneko Gallery, American River College – Sacramento, CA
  1st Place in Painting, 17th KVIE Public Television Art Auction – Sacramento, CA
1997 2nd Place in Painting, 16th KVIE Public Television Art Auction  – Sacramento, CA
1996 Best of Show, Haman House Gallery – Roseville, CA

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2015 Then and Now, John Natsoulas Gallery - Davis, CA
  Works from 1993-2014, Midtown Arts Collective - Art Ellis Building - Sacramento, CA
2011 Balance and Perspective, James Gray Gallery – Santa Monica, CA
2010 Arts Building Gallery – Auburn, CA
  John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
2006 Chasing Tornadoes and Dreams, Solomon Dubnick Gallery – Sacramento, CA
2003 Perception and Consequence, Solomon Dubnick Gallery – Sacramento, CA
2001 Alter Pieces, Solomon Dubnick Gallery – Sacramento, CA
2000 Revisiting the Garden, Barton Gallery – Sacramento, CA
1999 Alter Pieces, Mirian Myers Gallery – Laguna Beach, CA
  The Eden Series, American River College Gallery – Sacramento, CA

JURIED EXHIBITIONS

2015  United Nations Exhibition, La Bodega Gallery - San Diego, CA
  Crocker Kingsley Juried Exhibition - Sacramento, CA
2014  33rd KVIE Public Television Art Auction - Sacramento, CA
  Haggin Museum 158th Stockton Art League Juried Exhibition - Stockton, CA
  Viridian Artists 25th National and International Juried Exhibition
  Director's Choice Digital Exhibition - New York, NY
  Figurative, Linus Galleries - Online Exhibition
  71%, Linus Galleries - Online Exhibition
  Animal, Linus Galleries - Online Exhibition
2013 Small Wonders, Maryland Federation of Art - Annapolis, MD
  Art That Lifts Our Spirits, Manhattan Arts International - Online Exhibition
2010 29th KVIE Public Television Art Auction – Sacramento, CA
2009 Dualities, Sebastopol Art Center – Sebastopol, CA
  Imagine California Image, Kevin Milligan Gallery – Danville, CA
  Small Gem Show, Blue Line Gallery – Roseville, CA
2006 Special Collection, 25th KVIE Public Television Art Auction – Sacramento, CA
2005 24th KVIE Public Television Art Auction – Sacramento, CA
2003 Haggin Museum – Stockton, CA
2001 20th KVIE Public Television Art Auction – Sacramento, CA
1998 James Kaneko Gallery, American River College – Sacramento, CA
  17th KVIE Public television Art Auction – Sacramento, CA 
1997 16th KVIE Public Television Art Auction – Sacramento, CA
  Alumni Juried Show, California State University, Chico – Chico, CA
1996 15th KVIE Public Television Art Auction – Sacramento, CA
  Haman House Gallery – Roseville, CA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
 

2020 LA Modern + Contemporary Art Show -- Los Angeles, CA

   Bark! John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA

2019 Big Top Exhibition, Andra Norris Gallery -- Berlingame, CA

   Performance Painting, 12th Annual Jazz and Beat Festival, John Natsoulas Gallery

  18th Annual California Landscape Show, John Natsoulas Gallery

2018 Andra Norris Gallery -- Berlingame, CA

  ZK Gallery -- San Francisco, CA

  Art of Painting in the 21st Century VIIII, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  The Still Life, Rediscovered, John Natsoulas Gallery - Davis, CA
2017 Membership Melody, Blue Line Art Gallery - Roseville, CA
  16th Annual California Landscape Show, John Natsoulas Gallery
  Palm Springs Modernism Show, with John Natsoulas Gallery - Palm Springs, CA
  Art of Painting in the 21st Century VIII, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Art for Everyone, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
2016 15th Annual California Landscape Show, John Natsoulas Gallery

  Art of Painting in the 21st Century VII, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Bark! John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
2015 Douglas Michael Gallery - New Orleans, LA
  Tresor Contemporary - New Orleans, LA
  14th Annual California Landscape Show, John Natsoulas Gallery - Davis, CA
  LA Modernism Show with John Natsoulas Gallery - Culver City, CA
  Art of Painting in the 21st Century VI, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Bark! John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
2014 Group Exhibition, JNA Gallery – Santa Monica, CA
  13th Annual California Landscape Show, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Art of Painting in the 21st Century V, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Bark! John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
2013 Bergamot Station 19th Anniversary Show, JNA Gallery – Santa Monica, CA
  ArtLA Gallery – Santa Monica, CA
  12th Annual California Landscape Show, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Art of Painting in the 21st Century IV, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  16th Annual Fine Art of Baseball, George Krevsky Gallery – San Francisco, CA
  Bark! John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Circus, George Krevsky Gallery and Kim Pfabe’s Sugarcane – San Francisco, CA
2012 Benefit Art Auction, Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento - Sacramento, CA
  Bergamot Station 18th Anniversary Show, James Gray Gallery - Santa Monica, CA
  ArtLA Gallery – Santa Monica, CA
  11th Annual California Landscape Show, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA <br>
  Art of Painting in the 21st Century III, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Selections from the Art of Baseball, George Krevsky Gallery at Wells Fargo Building – San Francisco, CA
  15th Annual Fine Art of Baseball, George Krevsky Gallery – San Francisco, CA
  Bark! John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  PS#1 Itty Bitty Art Fundraising Event, Bergamot Station – Santa Monica, CA
  Artworks for Healing Art, Art Auction, Skirball Cultural Center – Los Angeles, CA
2011 Bergamot Station 17th Anniversary Show, James Gray Gallery – Santa Monica, CA
  10th Annual California Landscape Show, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA 
  Art of Painting in the 21st Century II, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Life and Landscape, George Krevsky Gallery – San Francisco, CA
  14th Annual Fine Art of Baseball, George Krevsky Gallery – San Francisco, CA
  International Artists Group Show, MIVA Gallery – Malmo, Sweden
  Sacramento Theme Show, Barton Gallery – Sacramento, CA
2010 James Gray Gallery – Santa Monica, CA
  Lottery for the Arts! Fundraising Event, Blue Line Gallery – Roseville, CA
2009 Trompe L’oeil Exhibition, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
2007 Barton Gallery – Sacramento, CA
2005 Love and Sex, Barton Gallery – Sacramento, CA
2004 Baseball Show, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Cowboys and Indians, Solomon Dubnick Gallery – Sacramento, CA
2002 Solomon Dubnick Gallery – Sacramento, CA
2001 Tower Art Gallery – Roseville, CA
  J.B. Gayle Gallery – Roseville, CA
2000 Forgery Contest, Barton Gallery – Sacramento, CA
1999 Figurative Show, Barton Gallery – Sacramento, CA
  All Creatures, Great and Small, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
1998 Olga Dollar Gallery – San Francisco, CA<br>
  All Creatures, Great and Small, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
1997 Group show with Wayne Thiebaud, Richard Diebenkorn, Roy De Forest, and Gregory Kondos, John Natsoulas Gallery –   Davis, CA
  All Creatures, Great and Small, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Group show with Squeak Carnwrath, Joan Moment, Steve Kaltenbach, and Roy Deforest, J.B. Gayle Gallery – Roseville, CA
  Chris Winfield Gallery – Carmel, CA
  Olga Dollar Gallery – San Francisco, CA
  Tower Art Gallery – Roseville, CA

  Arts Building Gallery – Auburn, CA
1996 Barton Gallery – Sacramento, CA
  Holmes Fine Art Gallery – San Jose, CA
1995 Peach Pit Fine Art Gallery – Sacramento, CA
  John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
1993 Zoie Art Gallery – Chico, CA

COLLECTIONS

2013 Del Frisco’s Grill – Santa Monica, CA
2002 American River College – Sacramento, CA
2001 Horseshoe Bar and Grill – Rocklin, CA

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2015 Myron Stephens. Davis, CA: John Natsoulas Press.  exhibition catalog
2014 Master Optical Illusionist. Style Magazine. May 2014. p 26
  A Trick of the Eye. ArtLA Magazine. May 2014. Web.
2013 Hidden Treasures. 2012. Sac. Bee.  25 Aug. 2013. Arts & Entertainment Index
  Myron Stephens Landscapes. Davis, CA: John Natsoulas Press. exhibition catalog
  Good Day Sacramento. CBS. 7 Jul. 2013. Television
  So Sweet. ArtLA Magazine. Feb. 2013. Web. cover art
  Boraya Parimad. “Best of 2012.” ArtLA Magazine. Jan. 2013. Web.
  Hidden Treasures. 2012. Davis Enterprise. 9 Nov. 2012 Web.
  Myron Stephens Artist Profile. Placer Arts 360. Web.
  http://www.zoomaru.org/myron.stephens
  Hidden Treasures. 2012. Daviswiki.org. Web.
  http://daviswiki.org/Transmedia_Art_Walk
2012 It Felt Right.  What Do I Know? (blog) 25 Oct. 2012. Accessed 9 Sept. 13.
  http://whatdoino-steve.blogspot.com
  Davis Mural Team. Davis, CA: John Natsoulas Press. pp 70

  11th Annual CA Landscape Painters.  Davis, CA: John Natsoulas Press. pp 48-49
  Art of Painting in the 21st Century.  Davis, CA: John Natsoulas Press. pp 74-75
  Watch This, 2010, Studio Visit Volume Seventeen. p 108
  Spicy, 2011, Studio Visit Volume Seventeen. p 209
  Watch This, 2010, Night of A Hundred Angels. Volume 1. p 159
2011 10th Annual CA Landscape Painters.  Davis, CA: John Natsoulas Press. pp. 40-41
2010 Good Day Sacramento. CBS. 24 Jun. 2010. Television
  Shoka. “June Picks.” Sacramento News and Review. 10 Jun. 2010. p 5
  Myron Stephens. Davis, CA: John Natsoulas Press.  exhibition catalog
2003 Tim White. “It’s Getting Dark.” Sacramento News and Review. 22 May 2003. web.
2001 Tim White. “Got Trompe L’oeil?” Sacramento News and Review.12 Apr. 2001. web
1999 Marilyn Moyle. “’Creatures’ Returns to Town.” Davis Enterprise. 10 Aug. 1999. A9
  Victim of A Still Life, 1997, American River Review. Spring. Cover
  Nude Woman Behind Asparagus, American River Review. Spring p 13
  Brush Bound to a Landscape, American River Review. Spring p 106
1997 Author Unknown “Local Artist Featured in Show.” Press Tribune. 14 Dec. 1997.
1996 Joanne Burkett. “Art Teacher Wins Best of Open Show.” Press Tribune. 17 May 1996. B4

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS AND PUBLIC ART
 

2018 12th Annual Davis Jazz Festival Beyond the Beat Generation Performance Painting, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA

2016 10th Annual Davis Jazz Festival Beyond the Beat Generation Performance Painting, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA

2015 9th Annual Davis Jazz Festival Beyond the Beat Generation Performance Painting, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA

2013 Art in Public Places, Placer Arts - Placer County, CA
  Davis Mural Team Public Arts Project, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  7th Annual Davis Jazz Festival Beyond the Beat Generation Performance Painting, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Annual California Paint Out Plein Air Painting, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
2012 Davis Mural Team Public Arts Project, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  6th Annual Davis Jazz Festival Beyond the Beat Generation Performance Painting, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Annual California Paint Out Plein Air Painting, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
2011 5th Annual Davis Jazz Festival Beyond the Beat Generation Performance Painting, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
  Annual California Paint Out Plein Air Painting, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA
2010 4th Annual Davis Jazz Festival Beyond the Beat Generation Performance Painting, John Natsoulas Gallery – Davis, CA

RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2003 Painting for the Scott Peterson Trial. Reconstructed missing evidence. Oil on panel, 16”x16” Commissioned by Mark   Geragos, Attorney

GALLERY AFFILIATION

John Natsoulas Gallery, www.natsoulas.com – Davis, CA

Andra Norris Gallery, www.andranorrisgallery.com -- Burlingame, CA

bottom of page