Oliver Stephens is a Guatemalan artist of American and Italian descent. Born in Antigua Guatemala, he has always felt a strong connection to the city of his birth and its rich history. Completing his studies at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design), Oliver fused his twin passions for painting and history with a double major in fine arts and historic preservation. His current artistic practice addresses the concept of cultural identity by examining the impact of historical environments, and how they have the ability to connect us with the wisdom of previous iterations of society.
Framing key moments in history, the artist highlights specific chapters that often help explain why modern society is what it is. As a preservationist, Oliver takes on the role of storyteller to ensure that memories of our society are passed on. As a painter, he understands the power that art has as a form of communication and seeks to use the language of art as a means to tell and preserve these stories. The results are highly textured representations of historical places that, through color and materiality, tell the stories that define us.
Join Oliver in analyzing his vision, understanding and worldview of what it means to be Guatemalan and Central American, in his latest exhibition “RAICES, Empire – Kingdom – Republic.” In his largest collection to date, three years of research come to light to show the history of Guatemala through a completely different lens.
Oliver Stephens will be having his own show at the amazing Casa Santo Domingo Hotel (Sala Marco Augusto Quiroa) from July the 29th until October the 25th. There is no cost to see the show.
