Everglades I Painting

Steph Fonteyn is a self-taught, internationally exhibited artist whose work has undergone a profound transformation. After more than two decades of working in a recognisable style, she faced an almost three-year period of painting stillness, only to re-emerge with a radically new approach—liberated, raw, and deeply authentic. This artistic rebirth has led her to create highly symbolic, soul-infused works that explore self-discovery, identity, and transformation. Her artistic journey has been anything but conventional. Inspired by courage, perseverance, and pushing boundaries, Steph initially gained recognition for her expressive portraits, abstract ski slopes, and swimmers diving into the unknown, using them as metaphors for the adventurer’s spirit. Over the years, her work evolved across various styles, including vibrant urban-inspired pop culture pieces, jazz musicians, New York cityscapes, and conceptual storytelling through art. Steph began exhibiting in Switzerland in 2005 and has never looked back. Her early career highlights include: “Jazz Colors” series at the Montreux Jazz Festival (2010-2011), celebrating iconic musicians like Billie Holiday and Miles Davis. “The 100 Faces Project” (2012-2013), an interactive portrait series inspired by social media, was exhibited at Cité du Temps in Geneva. She sold out her New York City landscapes on used NYC transit cards at the Single Fare 4 Exhibition in NYC (2017). Her painting “Fake News” was published in (t)here International Art Magazine and distributed at Art Basel Miami and globally. Exhibiting at Art3F Brussels (2018), with her sketchbook “This Is Not What It Seems”, joining the permanent collection at the Brooklyn Art Library. Artistic collaborations with the Igor Stravinsky Foundation in Geneva, in partnership with the composer’s great-granddaughter, celebrating Stravinsky’s legacy through visual art. Exhibiting ski scapes at Galerie Alpine in Villars, Switzerland (2021-present) Beyond her painting, Steph is a pioneer in arts-based team building. She founded Collaborative Art Team Building, an innovative, creative experience transforming corporate vision and values into large-scale collective paintings. This approach has taken her to TEDxZurichWomen (2015), where she facilitated a collective doodling experience, revealing a giant portrait of Amelia Earhart at the end of her talk “An Artist’s Leap of Faith”.