"Heber Tree" Painting

Steve Spencer’s outsider-influenced painting combines vivid color with humor and subtle compositional structures.  Spencer uses the tactile, plastic nature of acrylic paints to create musical canvasses.  His images combine representation and abstraction creating a post-modern mesh. 

He is drawn to popular culture, urban life, music, baseball, and the way our memories work.  Many of his works appear obvious at first glance but reward viewers with deeper layers upon reflection.

Spencer’s work has been featured in numerous publications around the world.  In 2016, he was honored with a grant by the Arkansas Arts Council.  He was selected as a Regional Artist by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.  In 2019 Spencer created the artwork for the Google Doodle honoring B.B. King. Spencer’s works have been featured in museum exhibits, the National Pastime Museum, the Kellogg Foundation, a handful of boutique hotels and dozens of private collections across the U.S.

Here's a link to the behind-the-scenes video for the Google Doodle:

Behind the scenes video about the Google Doodle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTb4wUZhBRA

Largely self-taught, Steve worked to create a deeply personal style. “I love outsider art,” Spencer says. “I developed a set of rules for myself: I could only use paint directly out of the tube. I could only use three brush sizes. I painted solely on cardboard.” He gradually loosened these rules, allowing himself to mix two or more paints together.

"Starting with outsider art allowed me to work out the styles of representation that I was interested in." Steve began including sly nods to pop art, abstract expressionism, cubism, Matisse, Picasso, "You name it and I've probably slipped something in. I am unashamedly post-modern. But always in the service of a fun, balanced image."

Painting means a lot to Steve, and his works populate the walls in the Little Rock, Arkansas home he shares with his wife and two children. "People kept asking if they could buy my stuff. One day I finally said Why not?"

"Intriguing work; Exciting; playful, great use of color and extending space; Very heartfelt. Complex compositions; social commentary; Funny, playful, pop culture references that connect. Very sophisticated." Judges' comments from panel of judges, Arkansas Arts Council.