WHY Painting

Ira Stein’s works confront issues that are difficult to talk about – sexual and physical abuse, social responsibility and what he feels is the dumbing down of society. As you will see, his works are bound together by his fascination with genetics and how it determines “all the shit you do.” His mantra, “Fuck Wisely” is a raw summation of his perspective on how society is evolving. Stein is a trained artist, a Vietnam veteran, former commercial airline pilot, and was a renown jeweler. With such an interesting and varied personal background, his works convey a well-rounded, multi-dimensional and inventive interpretation of the world surrounding him. His sculptures, mixed-media collages and figurative paintings all provide a glimpse into the psyche of an artist grasping with the notion of genetic essentialism viewed from the perspective of the troubled, vulnerable, and erotic female. Stein lives and works in Brentwood, California.