Stephen Signa-Aviles

This work explores the relationship between consumerism and masculinity as framed through the lens of hip-hop culture and fashion of the 90’s. In hip-hop culture shoes are objects of social pedigree. They, like medals or badges of honor, create a sense of identity and hierarchy within a given community.

The act of destroying and reforming the shoes reframes the purpose and power of these commercial objects and looks beyond their sartorial value. The works are at once a critique of targeted consumerism and a constructive exploration of masculinity and identity.

Roosters are birds of beauty and bravery. At the same time they are frail and disposable to their masters/owners. By examining their relationship with humans, I'm exploring the limits of identity formed through the ritual of consumption.

(*for price list of available works email smsigna@gmail.com with "available works request" in the subject line)

Past Matter is a series of sculptures made from paintings on wood panel (some finished some in progress) which were cut up, sanded, and used to make relief sculptures.

This process is a way for me to push the object-ness of paintings utilizing ideas about graffiti stylization. This work also represents a significant departure from flat representation towards a more 3-dimensional approach to my work.

(*for price list of available works email smsigna@gmail.com with "available works request" in the subject line)

{2013-2015}

This work is a response to specific periods of painting: Abstract expressionism and Minimalism. In this work I’m thinking of Frank Stella, Sol LeWitt, Ellsworth Kelly, Barnett Newman, Donald Judd etc..

Each work is made by painting on multiple wood panels with tape and house paint and no plan in mind: just ‘play’. After each panel has reached satisfactory progress, they are cut up randomly (mitre saw, table saw placed face down). Then both the surface and edges are sanded. 

After all pieces have been sanded they are then adhered on a pre-made box panel. The organizational goal is simply to keep recuts to a minimum and cover the entire surface area of the box/panel: something like an accidental mosaic.

Intention + non-intention + problem solving = Probable, Plausible, Fallible.

Probable success

Plausible strategy for making a painting

Fallible artist w/o perfect ideas

(*for price list of available works email smsigna@gmail.com with "available works request" in the subject line)

2011-2014

The challenge I undertook for this series was to synthesize my interests in Graffiti, symmetry in nature, and artworks that are both a painting and sculpture.

The images of the shapes came about through looking at different plant life. Sketches in my notebook became stylized through the course of adding/expanding/accenting the forms, similar to a stylized graffiti name.

The shapes are nothing in particular, but something specific: unknown but distinctly present. Like a ‘nom de plume’ boldly painted on a train as a means of seeking fame.

The paintings reference “object-ness” by either utilizing the material they are painted on as part of the painting, or by actually building out the frame to the point where it becomes sculptural.

(*for price list of available works email smsigna@gmail.com with "available works request" in the subject line)