Introduction

For over five decades, Andrew Stevovich has mastered a distinct style in painting with oils on linen, drawing influence from the early Italian Renaissance—artists such as Giotto, Fra Angelico, and Piero della Francesca—as well as from Expressionism and the pioneering colorists, Paul Gauguin and Georges Seurat. His oeuvre is a fusion of Renaissance humanism with the vivid hues and psychological depth of Expressionism and Post-Impressionism. The work captures moments of daily life — untold stories both familiar and mysterious, encouraging the viewer to make their own unique interpretations.

Process

Employing a precision-focused approach, Stevovich uses a finely-tipped brush to apply oils, even across expansive color fields, ensuring a texture that is both uniform and radiant. This method, best appreciated in person, gives his scenes an unmatched vibrancy and presence, showcasing the meticulous care invested in each stroke.

Figurative as a Dimension of the Abstract

Mondrian famously said "Art is higher than reality and has no direct relation to reality..." - Andrew's canvases begin as a tangent of this, where he explorates curves and angles that are then filled with warm and cool hues in complex tension. Next he introduces rhythmic counterpoints that guide the viewer’s eye. Lastly he includes the emotions of the observer, feeling the tension of the gaze of an eye, the anxiety of a crowd, or the tranquility of a familiar face. Their movement, and focus flow with the underlying geometric compositions.

A Modernized Retelling and Homage

Late Gothic, Early Renaissance, and Antiquity

Stevovich's scholarly love of art history brings him to explore historical art motifs in contemporary narratives. His work, such as the cinema scene in Movie (above), employs a flattened perspective reminiscent of antiquity, where the enormity of the figures on the screen echoes the oversized saints of late Gothic art, in this case imbuing everyday moments with a sense of the spiritual and divine.

Biography

Immigrating with his family to America at the age of two, Stevovich’s passion for the arts were inspired by growing up around the museums of Washington D.C. which led to him attending the Rhode Island School of Design to study painting. He spent his career in Boston pursuing his art and teaching painting and color theory. Residing in Massachusetts with his family, his work continues to be a testament to a lifelong dedication of exploring the arts.