Steve Rein – Troy, New York 2017

After a long career as a commercial artist and animator, I’ve stepped away from the creative work-for-hire business to focus on my own projects. I currently enjoy tinkering in the workshop and painting, some of which would be considered art and some of which is more commercial, such as the signs and graphical illustrations that I sell online in my ReinSign shop on Etsy. My past experiences as an animator, sign painter, graphic designer, illustrator, carpenter and mechanic each contributes something to my current work.

Most of the pictorial paintings on this site are inspired by old snapshots captured by unknown photographers. I find fascinating moments in these overlooked and discarded images; hastily composed, lopsided, cluttered, ill-timed and misdirected glimpses of unpolished humanity. To begin a painting, I select a “canvas” of reclaimed wood whose knots, scars and stains will synchronize with a chosen source image. In the process of designing the piece, I respond to the photo by removing some details and inventing others, pulling forth the mystery, humor and pathos. I paint with lettering enamels, whose dense pigmentation and vivid colors to present a striking contrast to the aged wood. My goal is to create work that maintains the intrigue of the original found photo, enhanced by the qualities of the wood, and is reanimated by the translation.

Steve Rein – Exhibition History

2018 – Collar Works – Home Show – Curated by Cara Manes

2017 – Albany Center Gallery Member’s Show,  Juror’s 1st Choice Award

2017 – Scarlet Seven Gallery – Winter Salon

2017 – “So It Would Seem” Group Show at The Arts Center of the Capital Region, Curated by Belinda Colón and Sarah Boylen

2017 – “Fence Select” – The Arts Center of the Capital Region, Juried by Michael Oatman

2017 – “Spectrum 4”,  Juried Show – bG Gallery, Santa Monica CA

2016 – Artists of the Mohawk Hudson Region – The Hyde Museum, Glens Falls NY, Curated by Michael Oatman

2016 – Juried “Small Works” ShowUpstream Gallery, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

2015 – Member Show at Albany Center Gallery

2015 – “Folk Modern”, The Albany Airport Gallery, Curated by Sharon Bates

2015 – “Fence Select” – The Arts Center of the Capital Region

2015 – “Slice of Life”, Solo Exhibition at Carmen’s Cafe, Troy NY

2014 – “Awkward Visit”, Solo Exhibition at The Sand Lake Center for the Arts

2014 – “Written Response Requested” – Group Exhibition at The Albany Public Library, Curated by Judie Gilmore

2013 – “Fence Select”, Award Winner: Runner-up – Arts Center of the Capital Region, Juror: Denise Markonish, Curator at MASS MoCA

2010 – “Fence Select”, The Arts Center of the Capital Region, Juror: Ian Berry – The Tang Teaching Museum Curator

2006 – Solo Exhibition at The Red Gallery, Troy NY

2001 – Fence Select – Award Winner – The Arts Center of the Capital Region, Juror: Sally Berger – Museum of Modern Art

1999-95 – “Odd Art,” Poundcake Gallery,San Francisco, CA.
“Strange Manipulations of a Scavenger Savant,” Crucible Steele Gallery, S.F.,CA.