Randall Steinke

Artist Statement

In an era where contemporary portraiture leans toward irony, alienation, or emotional ambiguity, my paintings insist on something different. My figures laugh. They smile openly. Their expressions are animated and unguarded. Rather than the solemn stillness associated with classical portraiture, I search for moments of genuine happiness — a quality that is both personal and hard-earned.

I’d rather paint "gratitude than grief".

That emotional clarity forms the foundation of a distinctive figurative style. My paintings are far from nostalgic exercises in mid-century figuration. I want my portraits to vibrate with saturated color, flattened decorative spaces, and experimental mark-making that pushes the work into a contemporary visual language uniquely my own.

I hope that those who view my work experience laughter and joy, whether derived from the paintings themselves or memories they evoke. My own happiness drives me to share this sentiment with others, even if it is just for a brief moment.