M HKA Ensembles

° 1968

Born in New Westminster, British Columbia ().

Steven Shearer develops an oeuvre of sculptures, photography, paintings and silk-screen prints, which are often shown together in the form of installations. His work puts high next to low culture in a theatrical manner.

Shearer's work is characterised by a strong duality. On the one hand he portrays dark figures from the metal scene, on the other hand he uses a colourful, almost fauvist painting style. The formal dominance of androgynous, long-haired figures – that look like Leif Garrett – is striking. With this long-haired grunge-like types, Shearer refers to subcultures of his youth.

Steven Shearer also makes books, using thousands of images he has collected over the years. These images and photos he doesn't only find on the Internet, but also in old magazines and second hand stores, and they often form the basis of his paintings and drawings.