The Dance Studio is Calum Stevenson’s latest exploration of human expression through the interplay of light, colour, and movement. In this series, Stevenson collaborates with professional dancers, photographing their interpretive movements to combine with abstract painting techniques, crafting scenes that are both unpredictable and evocative. Inspired by John Singer Sargent’s ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’ and his personal encounters, Stevenson delves into nocturnal landscapes where light takes on a transformative role, using intense colour to alter perceptions and illuminate the unseen.
Through conversations with his subjects, Stevenson gains insights that inform each piece, capturing the essence of expression as it emerges in the dance between light and shadow. This series, a testament to his ongoing journey as a figurative painter, invites viewers to engage with the unfolding stories, exploring the depths of the human experience.
Calum Stevenson’s work has been widely exhibited and added to prestigious collections over the last few years, such as the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Civic Collection at Glasgow City Chambers. In 2021, Stevenson became the youngest and first Scottish artist to win the nationally televised Sky Portrait Artist of the Year competition. Since then, he had his hugely successful debut solo show with Gallery Heinzel and completed several prestigious commissions before turning his attention to this new body of work.
