: Statement :

almost impossible things

A classified ad in the newspaper describing my practice would read: artist seeks a recondite beauty.

I am interested in the experience called apophenia: a spontaneous perception of meaningfulness in random phenomena, or seeing patterns and connections where none exist. A colleague once showed me his painting titled Making Sense Out Of Total Fucking Insanity—when considering a work of art, it is sometimes unclear whether the artist or the viewer is assuming the role of decipherer. Not only a title for a work of art, "making sense out of total fucking insanity" is a statement for looking at Art as a whole, the art world as an entity in itself, and useful in the task of converting visual information and ideas to knowledge.

My artwork consists of works-in-series, often employing a combination of drawing and painting, text, objects and actions. By working in the self-titled field of Allmedia—art in all forms—my aim as an artist is to develop images and objects that speak to particular subjects/themes, certain issues, such as pattern, multiplicity, memory, craft, technique, visual narratives and visual pleasure.

It is my view on art—an inspiration actually—that knowledge from the past is informing, shaping and is a tool for use in contemporary expression. It is my conscious practice to allow influence from everything from the past in order to comment on the present, to produce familiar yet unseeen, challenging artwork, to push ahead, and translate perceptions of contemporary life through art.

: Short Biography : 

Steven Barich (1975) grew up in East Oakland, California on a mix of punk rock, hip-hop and visual art. He has earned an MFA from Mills College (2001) and a BFA from the California College of the Arts and Crafts (1997). Barich lived for four years in the Netherlands, which he considers a unique post-graduate education/perspective unattainable in America. Exhibitions include solo shows at Rowan Morrison Gallery (USA) and The Compound Gallery (USA), as well as group shows at Southern Exposure (USA), The Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (USA), the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen (NL), TENT Center for Contemporary Art (NL) and Curators without Borders (D).

He currently lives, works and invests in the art community, in Oakland, CA.