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Contemporary Figurative Artist / Los Angeles, California
Contemporary artist Adam Stone was born in Hollywood,
California in 1966. He grew up in the ethnically diverse
and cultural melting pot of L.A.’s historic Miracle
Mile district. A fertile ground for the early inspiration
that would ultimately serve as the catalyst for his
style of contemporary urban expressionism.
A self taught painter, he was born into a family of
artists where art was not only a means of self expression
but one of survival in and of itself. His parents were
early pioneers in the L.A. street art festival scene
back in the early 70’s. At the age of 17, he began
to experiment with collage assemblages and reverse glass
painting. He started selling these early works on the
Venice Beach Boardwalk and after a couple successful
years, he began to exhibit in many of the local Southern
California Fine Art Festivals that his family helped
refine.
His love for painting the human figure in motion can
be traced to an early admiration of the strong character
renderings, bold colors and dramatic perspective featured
in the art in comic books. His figurative paintings
depicting scenes from night clubs, musicians and athletes
were perfect subjects to convey his fascination with
the raw and breath taking power of human emotional and
physical intention.
In the mid 80’s, a desire to overcome chronic
shyness led him to enroll in an elementary acting class
while attending Santa Monica Jr. College. He was quickly
cast in the role of Eddie Billick in the the Theatre
East production of “The Whole Darn Shooting Match.”
The play had a successful Summer run and ultimately
led him to The Beverly Hills Playhouse where he would
embark on a 15 year journey of honing his dramatic skills
and diligent study of character development. Roles in
stage, television and film would soon follow. His last
being a guest starring turn on the hit NBC drama “ER.”
By the late 90’s, Stone’s art work was published
and collected world wide. His style began to evolve
and it was time to bring the wealth of experience he
cultivated as an actor to his art. These new tools stimulated
new insights and brought new dimensions to his paintings.
He began an exploration of placing his figures within
the limitless boundaries of contemporary narratives.
Muscular bodies gracefully soaring through the air,
sinewy fingers gliding up and down slippery frets of
worn Fender Strats, vocal chords stretched to their
limits to convey a lyrical intent...these are the actions
that emphasise the passion in his work. Whether depicting
the crude plight of a lonely piano player playing the
last set of the night before an empty tip jar to the
bitter irony in the desperate gaze of a man betting
his last chip... These are familiar scenarios that engage
our emotions and unite us in our understanding and compassion
for what it is to be human.
Somewhere, as our eyes travel amidst the rhythmic brushstrokes,
in-between the delicate balance of color, line and form
that fill each composition, we are reminded of ourselves...Our
passions--strengths and fragilities...Our longings to
be heard, understood, admired and loved for who we are.
In every flailing limb and contorted facial expression
there lies an undeniable sense of truth, passion, conviction
and hope.
Stone lives and works in Los Angeles, California.
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