Stephen Niles

My first life drawing class at age 17 in high school was formative. Looking back it wasn't any different than art classes in college. It was an Atelier approach. I was thrown into the deep end, not exactly sink or swim, more eyes wide open. Learn by doing, by feel, through the body, and repetition.

I grew up in the 70's in Hawaii, surfing and skateboarding. My surfer heroes were brave, free, and surfing for no other reason. They were the original "soul surfers" and their style part of the counter cultural moment. Skateboarding grew alongside surfing with a similar approach to style. Both took a Romantic approach to process. More emotion less reason. As a young painter in college I felt the same feeling painting as I did surfing. Time slowed to a flow state. The blank canvas was the ocean and like catching a wave you stand up and go. Either you can or can't dance was the general approach. A soulful attitude. An artist was a force of nature.

Painting involves learning technique and finding your self in the work. I haven't described the technical parts of drawing or painting so I could emphasize my motivation from that first drawing class. I spent most of my life as an artist teaching art at the University of Hawaii Comm...

BFA, University of Hawaii, 1988, MFA, Pratt Institute, 1994.

Second Ballinglen International Exhibition, Ballinglen Museum of Art, Ireland 2025.
Honolulu New Painting Invitational, Department of Art and Art History, University of Hawaii, 2023.
Center for Teaching Excellence,University of Hawaii, “The Invisible Painting”, 2007.
The Contemporary Museum at First Hawaiian Center, “Here”, 2006.
Boom Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1995.
Pratt MFA, Higgins Hall, Brooklyn, New York, Thesis 1994.
Hawaii Pacific University, Kaneohe, Hawaii, 1991.
(Group exhibitions)
Honolulu Academy of Arts, Artist of Hawaii, 2011, 2009, 2002, 2004.
Cedar Street Gallery, Honolulu, Embedded, 2010,
Koa Gallery, Kapiolani Community College, Faculty Biennial, 2010
University of Hawaii, Faculty Show, 2009.
Gallery Iolani, Windward Community College, Hawaii, The Drawing Show, 2009
Maui Arts and Cultural Center/The Contemporary Museum, The Schaefer Portrait
Challenge, 2009.
The Contemporary Museum at First Hawaiian Center, Ten Years, 2007
TCM and Neiman Marcus, Contemporarities, Auction/Benefit, 2006.
Honolulu Academy of Arts, “Malaya” 1999.
Academy Art Center, Honolulu, “The Space Between”, 1998.
Boom gallery, Honolulu, “Leer”, 1997.
Parsons School of Design, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Not”, 1997.
Reviews Include: The Honolu...