Artist: Stephen Chesley | Location: Columbia, SC
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Artist: Stephen Chesley | Location: Columbia, SC
Columbia, SC
Stephen Chesley was born in Schenectady, NY, in 1952. He exhibited a natural proclivity for drawing and art almost as soon as he could hold pastel and pencil, which were often Christmas gifts from his family. Growing up in Virginia Beach in the late 1950’s he was exposed to the ‘Beat Generation’ of musicians, artist, and writers when Virginia Beach was still a seasonal seaside resort. Self-motivated, he continued with his drawing and small paintings along with exposure to local artist. Throughout elementary and high-school the art spirit continued. Collegiate exposure led to a meld of art and science with degrees in Urban Studies and a master’s degree in Urban Planning in 1980 from the school of Architecture at Clemson University. Graduating in a deep national economic recession Stephen turned back to his art. Spending five years on rivers and sea islands to explore his aesthetic, subject matter, influential painters, and styles, Chesley’s paintings and art work began to move to the fore. Recognized in 1981 by the Columbia Museum of Art as an emerging talent he went on to win top 100 in the first National Parks competition of 1987, exhibiting at the Smithsonian, and in 1996 a National Endowment for the Arts, Southeast Regional Fellowship, Southeast Center for Contemporary Art.