Artist Statement 2022
“Why retro/vintage objects, like vintage books, typewriters, telephones, fans, clocks, cameras? More than one reason.
On one level, they have beautiful, sometimes intricate, sometimes simple, but always tactile designs. Presenting these regular, banal subjects in painting transfers them to iconic symbols of the not-so-distant past.
On another level, things like the typewriters, when painted along with books, paper, pencils, represent ideas and stories being shared. Clocks are the passage of time, as well as having unique faces, colors and shapes. Cameras are image-makers, and as a painter, I make images. Cameras capture instant moments, I capture cameras in slow, close observation. I've painted telephones for years, they symbolize talking and listening — communication. Electric fans, when painted together seem to become figurative and when placed in certain compositions you can create subtle narratives that can be interpreted in a myriad of ways.
We have modern versions of all these objects, obviously. But when using decades old objects, they transport the viewer away from our noisy world to the world of memory. They're more thoughtful, quieter, simpler.
Nostalgic? Maybe. But there seems to be some missing virtue that can be found in painting them and linking them together. I think it's undeniable, beautiful, heavy and deep, like a colossal 85-year-old Underwood typewriter.
I am drawn to painting objects from the past because they give me opportunities for thoughtfulness and hopefully the viewers too.”
“Why retro/vintage objects, like vintage books, typewriters, telephones, fans, clocks, cameras? More than one reason.
On one level, they have beautiful, sometimes intricate, sometimes simple, but always tactile designs. Presenting these regular, banal subjects in painting transfers them to iconic symbols of the not-so-distant past.
On another level, things like the typewriters, when painted along with books, paper, pencils, represent ideas and stories being shared. Clocks are the passage of time, as well as having unique faces, colors and shapes. Cameras are image-makers, and as a painter, I make images. Cameras capture instant moments, I capture cameras in slow, close observation. I've painted telephones for years, they symbolize talking and listening — communication. Electric fans, when painted together seem to become figurative and when placed in certain compositions you can create subtle narratives that can be interpreted in a myriad of ways.
We have modern versions of all these objects, obviously. But when using decades old objects, they transport the viewer away from our noisy world to the world of memory. They're more thoughtful, quieter, simpler.
Nostalgic? Maybe. But there seems to be some missing virtue that can be found in painting them and linking them together. I think it's undeniable, beautiful, heavy and deep, like a colossal 85-year-old Underwood typewriter.
I am drawn to painting objects from the past because they give me opportunities for thoughtfulness and hopefully the viewers too.”
Artist Biography
After receiving his BFA with High Honors and a Distinguished Exhibition in 2003 from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, Stott worked in the university’s photography department. After being immersed in the rapidly changing and technical world of photography, he left to pursue painting, where the digital world was shut out and traditional oil techniques honored. For the next several years, he studied and practiced, building on his skills, and continues to do so with a prolific studio career. Stott’s work is almost object portraiture, applying traditional still life compositions and lighting but ventures beyond time honored subject matter. With the addition of retro, vintage and antique objects like rotary telephones, typewriters, electric fans, and alarm clocks, Stott links the old with the new and applies a subtle narrative to his work, often with a quiet sense of humor.
After receiving his BFA with High Honors and a Distinguished Exhibition in 2003 from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, Stott worked in the university’s photography department. After being immersed in the rapidly changing and technical world of photography, he left to pursue painting, where the digital world was shut out and traditional oil techniques honored. For the next several years, he studied and practiced, building on his skills, and continues to do so with a prolific studio career. Stott’s work is almost object portraiture, applying traditional still life compositions and lighting but ventures beyond time honored subject matter. With the addition of retro, vintage and antique objects like rotary telephones, typewriters, electric fans, and alarm clocks, Stott links the old with the new and applies a subtle narrative to his work, often with a quiet sense of humor.
Resume
BORN 1976
EDUCATION
BFA, University of Saskatchewan, 2003
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2020 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2019 George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2018 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2017 George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2016 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2015 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles
2014 Art Essex Gallery, Essex, CT
2012 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2012 Bakersfield Museum of Art, Bakersfield, CA
2012 Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2011 Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2010 Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2003 Snelgrove Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 Robert Lang Studios, Charleston, SC
2018 Tick Tock; Time in Contemporary Art, Lehman College Art Gallery, Bronx, NY
2017 Attention to Detail, Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
2016 Arden Gallery, Boston, MA
2014 George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2014 "Fifteen", Anniversary Group Show, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2013 Red Dot Art Fair, George Billis Gallery, Miami, FL
2013 Still Life Group Exhibition, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2012 The Still Life Group Exhibition, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2012 Still Life Group Show, Washington County Museum of Fine Art, Hagerstown, MD
2012 Group Exhibition, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2011 Red Dot Art Fair, George Billis Gallery, Miami, FL
2011 Red Dot Art Fair, Mason Murer Fine Art, Miami, FL
2011 The Still Life, Group Exhibition, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Saramento, CA
2011 The Real Thing, Group Exhibition, Mason Murer Fine Art, Altanta, GA
2010 The Still Life, Group Exhibition, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2010 40 & Under, Group Exhibition, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2009 New Work, Two Man Exhibition, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2005 Art & All that Jazz, Saskatoon, SK
2002 The Drawing Studio, Saskatoon, SK
2002 St. Thomas Moore Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
COLLECTIONS
J.Crew Inc.
University of Saskatchewan
Several private and corporate collections throughout the USA, Canada, Europe & Asia
EDUCATION
BFA, University of Saskatchewan, 2003
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2020 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2019 George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2018 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2017 George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2016 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2015 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles
2014 Art Essex Gallery, Essex, CT
2012 George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2012 Bakersfield Museum of Art, Bakersfield, CA
2012 Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2011 Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2010 Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2003 Snelgrove Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 Robert Lang Studios, Charleston, SC
2018 Tick Tock; Time in Contemporary Art, Lehman College Art Gallery, Bronx, NY
2017 Attention to Detail, Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
2016 Arden Gallery, Boston, MA
2014 George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2014 "Fifteen", Anniversary Group Show, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2013 Red Dot Art Fair, George Billis Gallery, Miami, FL
2013 Still Life Group Exhibition, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2012 The Still Life Group Exhibition, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2012 Still Life Group Show, Washington County Museum of Fine Art, Hagerstown, MD
2012 Group Exhibition, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2011 Red Dot Art Fair, George Billis Gallery, Miami, FL
2011 Red Dot Art Fair, Mason Murer Fine Art, Miami, FL
2011 The Still Life, Group Exhibition, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Saramento, CA
2011 The Real Thing, Group Exhibition, Mason Murer Fine Art, Altanta, GA
2010 The Still Life, Group Exhibition, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2010 40 & Under, Group Exhibition, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2009 New Work, Two Man Exhibition, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2005 Art & All that Jazz, Saskatoon, SK
2002 The Drawing Studio, Saskatoon, SK
2002 St. Thomas Moore Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
COLLECTIONS
J.Crew Inc.
University of Saskatchewan
Several private and corporate collections throughout the USA, Canada, Europe & Asia
