MAXWELL STEVENS is an American artist born in 1971 who lives and works in New York City. He received an MFA in Painting from the School of Art at Washington University in St. Louis in 1995, and a BFA in Painting from The Atlanta College of Art (now SCAD Atlanta) in 1993. He is best known for his multi-layered paintings and drawings that overlay photorealistic images with vivid, energized abstractions.
Shortly after moving to New York City, after many years of working exclusively in non-representational abstraction, Maxwell Stevens embarked on a significant stylistic shift in his approach to his art. He began composing his canvases with recognizable imagery, incorporating photorealist figures and lifelike scenes into his works, and then abruptly superposing these paintings directly with tumultuous abstractions. This new period is clearly identifiable by large abstract painted gestures superimposed directly on top of photorealist paintings that have become increasingly descriptive, with each series correlating the seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, around a deeply personal and often autobiographical theme.
In an essay entitled Maxwell Stevens: Thesis, Antithesis & Synthesis, NYArts Magazine observed “These vivid gestures of thick impasto grow invariably in an upwards motion as abrupt expressions that reach the viewer with immediate emotional charge and the space far beyond the canvas.” By dramatically increasing the surface tension of the canvases, from the chaotic clouds of brushstrokes that remain individually visible underneath, to the bowlike tension of a unified flat and hard mirror surface, the artist makes them most accessible to the viewer.
Writing for Meer Magazine, Art Critic Alejandro Pardo described the paintings this way, “The surface you see becomes both the frontier that separates and the gate that opens and integrates the outer and inner spaces.” The possibilities with his newly invented approach has allowed him to introduce a wide variety of content and narrative situations into what at first glance often appears as a purely abstract picture, opening up to new subject matter while raising important questions about the very nature of representation, perception, and pattern recognition, constantly questioning and pushing the limits of painting as a form.
Often working with everyday scenes drawn directly from life, the artist has said “I’m interested in the domestic arena as the primary site for our psychological and emotional experiences, and in how we exist differently, historically, within each passing moment. I try to use abstraction and the fragmentation of representational imagery to evoke this.” Exploring an array of subjects over the years, his pictures address many of the shared aspects of the human condition.
Maxwell Stevens has exhibited extensively and internationally in contemporary venues from Tokyo to Paris to New York, alongside major artists such as Cy Twombly, Joseph Beuys, and Dorothea Rockburne. His paintings and projects have been featured in numerous publications including Art in America, Aatonau Magazine, Art Collector News, Contemporary Art Explore, Cultbytes Magazine, USA Art News, NY Arts Magazine, Meer Magazine, The Museum of Modern Art Contemporary Drawing and Print Associates Bulletin, Fine Art Connoisseur, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and Art Papers, among many others.
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Solo Exhibitions
2025
Last Days of Summer Prints, Monat Gallery, Madrid. In partnership with Artsper.
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2024
Last Days of Summer, New Paintings, Galerie Bruno Massa, Paris.
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2023
Last Days of Summer, New Paintings, Onetwentyeight, New York.
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2021
Autumn Leaves, New Paintings, Onetwentyeight, New York.
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2020
Hypertexture Paintings, Online Viewing Room, Studio & Showroom, New York.
2017
Spring Essence, New Paintings, Onetwentyeight, New York.
2016
Summer Table Paintings, Onetwentyeight, New York.
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2013
New Paintings, LIC Open, Long Island City, New York.
2011
Meeting and Parting, Chelsea West Gallery presented by Ressle|Chun, New York.
2009
Asian Bath Paintings, Chelsea West Gallery, New York.
2006
Paintings, Thomas Werner Gallery, New York.
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2004
Wave Paintings, Long Island City, New York.
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2001
Red & White, New Gallery, Houston.
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2000
New Paintings, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, Saint Louis.
1999
Paintings, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, Saint Louis.
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1998
New Paintings, Solomon Projects, Atlanta.
New Faces, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, Saint Louis.
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1997
Blue, The Saint Louis Design Center, Saint Louis.
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1995
Thesis Exhibition, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Saint Louis.
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1993
Abstract Paintings, Gallery 100, Atlanta.
Selected Group Exhibitions​​
2026 ​
Paris Art Fair, Art World Fairs Edition, Paris.​
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2025
Visual Perspectives, Galleria Tilde, Palermo. Presented at the Palazzo Pasini Revedin, Venice.
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Artroom, Galleria Tilde, Palermo.
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Pink Art Fair, Galerie Bruno Massa, Seoul.
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Jeju International Art Fair (JIAF), Galerie Bruno Massa, Jeju, South Korea.
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Home Table Deco Fair, Galerie Bruno Massa, Busan, South Korea.
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Architales, Monat Gallery, Madrid.
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Prism, Monat Gallery, Madrid.
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Visions II, Monat Gallery, Madrid.
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ArtExpo NY, New York.​
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2024​
In The Emancipation of Self, D CONTEMPORARY, London.
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Haze, Galleria Tilde, Palermo, Italy.
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(de)construct, Galleria Tilde, Palermo, Italy.
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He Said/She Said, Amos Eno Gallery, New York.
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The Seasons, Van Der Plas Gallery, New York.
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Horizon, Monat Gallery, Madrid.
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White Noise, Monat Gallery, Madrid.
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Visions, Monat Gallery, Madrid.
(Un)Fair Milan, Superstudio Maxi, Milan.
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Monaco Art Fair, Monaco.
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Marbella Design & Art, Marbella, Spain.
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2023
Trait d’Union, Maxwell Stevens & Pepe Hidalgo, Galerie Bruno Massa, Paris.
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Colours of Sound, Monat Gallery, Madrid.
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The Bridge, Van Der Plas Gallery, New York.
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Of Integration, Van Der Plas Gallery, New York.
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Interferences, M.A.D.S. Gallery, Milan.
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Brussels Art Fair, Brussels Expo, Brussels.
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Spectrum Art Fair, Mana Wynwood, Miami.
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Paris Art Fair, Porte de Versailles, Paris.
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2022
8 X 12, FLOOR_, Seoul.​
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MENA NFT Exhibit, PRISM NFT, The Bahrain Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain.
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2021
Tilted Visions, VillageOne Art, New York.
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2018
PROOF: Media for Social Justice Benefit, Richard Taittinger Gallery, New York.
Curated by Joseph Knight (Knight & Hammer) and Fran Kaufman (Kaufman Vardy Projects).
2016
Visual Aids Benefit Exhibition, Sikkema-Jenkins & Co., New York.
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2015
Art Olympia, Toshima City Hall, Tokyo.
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Hypercalligraphic, Onetwentyeight, New York. Includes Sol LeWitt, Kazuko Miyamoto, Scott Alger, Caroline Scott, Haruko Mochimaru, Helmut Krackie, K & D, Yuko K., Kaitlin Martin.
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Spring Invitational Exhibition & Benefit, Momenta Art, Brooklyn, New York.
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NYC Salon Showcase, Arts @ Renaissance, Brooklyn, New York.
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New Work City, Momenta Art, Brooklyn, New York.
Last Dance at The Old Gem, Arts @ Renaissance, Brooklyn, New York.
Family Ties, Brooklyn / Dallas, 500X Gallery, Dallas.
Modernism Fine Art Auction, Link Auction Galleries, Saint Louis.
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2014
Kimono Kimono, Onetwentyeight, New York. In conjunction with Sol LeWitt: Wall Drawing 731.
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Family Style, (Formerly) Pocket Utopia, New York. Curated by Julie Torres.
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Second Family, (Formerly) Pocket Utopia @ 2 Rivington, New York.
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2011
Works on Paper, One Great Jones Gallery, Presented with Björn Ressle Fine Art, New York.
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2010/11
The Winter Salon – In Synthesis, Elga Wimmer PCC, New York.
Curated by Björn Ressle and Hee Yuen Chun. Includes Carl Andre, Joseph Beuys,
John Cage, Robert Raushenberg, Cy Twombly, Robert Ryman and others.
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2010
The Winter Salon, Björn Ressle Fine Art, New York. Includes John Chamberlain, David Hockney, Robert Mangold, Fred Sandback, and others.
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2009
The First Decade, White Box, NY, sponsored by Phillips de Pury & Co., New York.
Extended view May-June 2009. Color catalogue with commentary by Ethan Cohen.
2008/09
The Winter Salon – Works on Paper, Björn Ressle Fine Art, New York.
Extended view December 2008 thru January 31, 2009. Includes Dan Flavin,
Sol LeWitt, Alex Katz, Richard Tuttle, Dennis Oppenheim, Dorothea Rockburne and others.
2007
Summer Show, LIC Arts Open, Long Island City, New York.
2006
Art on Paper, Contemporary Art Fair, New York. Thomas Werner Gallery, New York.
2005
Paper One, Selected Drawings by Nine Artists, Thomas Werner Gallery, New York.
Night of 1000 Drawings, Artists Space, New York.
2004
Selections, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, St. Louis. Curated by Bruno David.
2003
Way to Blue, Devin Borden Hiram Butler Gallery, Houston.
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Invitational Exhibition, PS122 Gallery, New York.
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International Abstraction, Stage Gallery, New York. Curated by Phyllis Braff, Art Critic, The New York Times.
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The Potent Line, The Williams Tower Gallery, Houston.
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The Last Picture Show: Four Contemporary Painters Explore the Gesture, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, Saint Louis.
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Miniatures, an Invitational Exhibition, Hooks Epstein Galleries, Houston. Curated by R. Eric Davis.
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2002
Texas/New York, Stux Gallery, New York & New Gallery, Houston.​
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Through Thick and Thin: Four Artists, New Gallery, Houston.
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Invitational Exhibition, DiverseWorks Artspace, Houston. Curated by Sara Kellner.
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Surface Tensions, The Galveston Art Center, Texas.
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Round One, Hooks Epstein Galleries, Houston. Curated by R. Eric Davis.
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Benefit Exhibition, The Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C.
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2001
Art Miami 2001, Miami.
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Summer Exhibition, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, Saint Louis. Saint Louis.
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2000
Selected Works, Kiang Gallery, Atlanta.
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A Salute to the Forward Arts Scholars of The Atlanta College of Art, Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta.
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Selected Works, Gallery FAB, University of Missouri, Saint Louis.
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1999
Contemporary Art Showcase, CNN Showroom, represented by Solomon Projects, Atlanta.
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1998
Numinous: Maxwell Stevens, Jerald Ieans, Mary Judge. Solomon Projects, Atlanta.
Color catalog with essay by Jerry Cullum, Senior Editor, Art Papers.
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Art + Soul Open Studios: Downtown, Saint Louis.
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1997
Summer Selections, Nancy Solomon Gallery, Atlanta.
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1996
The Delta Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Little Rock.
Painting Exhibition, SLCC Gallery, Saint Louis.
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1994
Art Saint Louis X, curated by Richard Hunt. The Saint Louis Design Center, Saint Louis.
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Group Painting Exhibition, Blue Moon Alternative Artspace, Saint Louis.
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38 Hands, Pierce Arrow Gallery, Saint Louis.
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1993
Artcare AIDS Benefit Art Auction, Hotel Nikko, Atlanta.
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Drawing Now, Tula Foundation Gallery and Nexus Contemporary Art Center, Atlanta.
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1992
Artcare AIDS Benefit Art Auction, Swissotel, Atlanta.
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Group Show, ACA Gallery, Atlanta. Curated by Jerry Cullum, Senior Editor, Art Papers.
Seven Painters, Gallery 100, Atlanta.
Presentations
2024
Recent Prints, Solo Presentation, Monat Gallery, Madrid.
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2023
Artist Talk, Last Days of Summer, New Paintings, Onetwentyeight, New York.
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2021
Artist Talk, Autumn Leaves, New Paintings, Onetwentyeight, New York.
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2016
Artist Talk, Summer Table Paintings, Onetwentyeight, New York.
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2011
Ink & Parchment Drawings, One Great Jones Gallery, presented by Björn Ressle Fine Art, New York.
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2009
The Armory Show, Angles Gallery, Santa Monica.
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2006
Artist Talk, Thomas Werner Gallery, New York.
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2002
Five Textures, New Gallery, Houston.
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2002
Artist Talk, Slide Jam: Presentations by Emerging Artists, Contemporary Art Museum, Houston.
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2001
Visiting Artist, Looking at Art, Contemporary Artists Studio Visit Series, Houston.
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1997
Visiting Artist, Painting Department, Webster University, Saint Louis.
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1996
Visiting Artist, Introduction to Abstraction, The Saint Louis Art Museum.
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Awards
2015
Recipient. Finalist Award. Presented by Art Olympia Committee, Tokyo.
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1998
Finalist. Richard Diebenkorn Teaching Fellowship. San Francisco Art Institute.
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1998
Recipient. Artist Projects Grant, Provided by the Regional Arts Commission, Saint Louis.
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1994-95
Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Washington University in Saint Louis. Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.
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1993
Recipient. The Nannie Boyd Award for Studio Excellence, Presented by The Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta.
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1992-93
Recipient. The Forward Arts Award, Full Tuition Scholarship Provided by The Forward Arts Foundation, Atlanta.
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1992
Recipient. The Ben Shute Award for Representational Painting. Presented by The Atlanta College of Art.
Education
1995
MFA, Washington University in Saint Louis, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. Graduated with Honors.
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1993
BFA, The Atlanta College of Art. Forward Arts Scholar, 1992-1993.
Books and Catalogues
2025
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artRoom, Exhibition catalogue, Galleria Tilde Publications, Palermo, Italy.
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Last Days of Summer Prints, Color catalogue with critical essay by Martina Lattuca.
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Jeju Interntional Art Fair (JIAF) Exhibition catalogue.
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ArtExpo New York, Color catalogue.
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2024
Haze, Exhibition catalogue, Galleria Tilde Publications, Palermo, Italy.
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(de)construct, Exhibition catalogue, Galleria Tilde Publications, Palermo, Italy.
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Marbella Design & Art. Color catalogue.
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2023
Published by Calaméo Press, Paris, France. May 20, 2023.
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Published by Calaméo Press, Paris, France. October 25, 2023.
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Interferences. Exhibition catalogue, Milan.
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2015
Art Olympia. Exhibition catalogue, Tokyo.
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2011
Maxwell Stevens Drawings, in conjunction with CWG Gallery, New York.
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2009
The First Decade, White Box. New York. Exhibition catalogue. Essay by Ethan Cohen.
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2008
Vermillion Set. Limited Signed Edition.
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2006
Maxwell Stevens Paintings, Exhibition catalogue, Thomas Werner Gallery. New York.
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1998
Numinous. Color catalogue with essay by Jerry Cullum, Senior Editor, Art Papers.
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1996
Delta Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Little Rock.
Color catalogue with curatorial essay by Robert Stackhouse.
Publications
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Art Olympia. “News and Events” Tokyo, Japan. 2015.
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Art Papers. “Maxwell Stevens: New Paintings at Solomon Projects,” Atlanta. January/February Issue, 1998.
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Artcritical. “Hypercalligraphic at Onetwentyeight,” New York. February, 2015.
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Artslant. “Hypercalligraphic” Onetwentyeight, New York. February/March, 2015.
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Blouin Artinfo. “Maxwell Stevens Summer Table Paintings at Gallery Onetwentyeight,” New York. January/February, 2016.
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Byrd, Cathy. “Driven to Abstraction,” Creative Loafing. (Atlanta) Arts & Entertainment section. February 7, 1998.
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Cerizza, Luca. art agenda. “The Gallerist from Onetwentyeight” Notes. June 8, 2015.
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Chun, Hee Yuen. “Meeting and Parting, Maxwell Stevens and Songyi Kim.” Exhibition essay, Björn Ressle Art Projects @ CWG Gallery, New York. 2011.
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Daniel, Jeff. “New Faces, Maxwell Stevens and Elisa Abeloff at Elliot Smith” The Saint Louis Post-Dispatch. Sunday, June 30, 1999. Exhibition Review.
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Evensi. “Maxwell Stevens, Summer Table Paintings” at Onetwentyeight. New York. January, 2016.
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Ferber, Hayley. "Ruminations on Maxwell Stevens 'Last Days of Summer'" USA Art News. September 20, 2023. Exhibition Review.
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Helen A. Harrison. “Hidden Within the Geometry, a Suggestion of Real Things.” The New York Times, Sunday, February 2, 2003. Group Exhibition Review.
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Hoggard, Barry, Editor. Artcat Picks. “Maxwell Stevens at Thomas Werner Gallery,” New York, 2006.
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Il sito dell’ Arte. “Maxwell Stevens, Summer Table Paintings, Onetwentyeight” January/February, 2016.
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Lloyd, Ann Wilson. “Art under the Arch, Report from Saint Louis.” Art in America, July 2001.
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Lombardi, Dominick. “Vibrant and Varied Works on Paper.” d’Art International, Spring/Summer 2009. Group Exhibition Review.
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The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY. Curator’s Picks, Hypercalligraphic at Onetwentyeight. Contemporary Drawing and Print Associates Bulletin, February, 2015.
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NY Art Beat. “Maxwell Stevens Summer Table Paintings” Onetwentyeight, New York. 2016.
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NY Art Beat. “Meeting and Parting, Maxwell Stevens and Songyi Kim.” CWG Gallery, New York. 2011.
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Otten, Liam. “Blue.” Curatorial essay accompanying “Maxwell Stevens, Blue” at The Saint Louis Design Center. January, 1997.
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Radujko, Gabriella, Editor. “Maxwell Stevens: Summer Table Paintings at Onetwentyeight” Artcards New York. Editor’s Picks, January, 2016.
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Rodriguez, Manuel. “Maxwell Stevens: Thesis, Antithesis & Synthesis” NY ARTS Magazine. March, 2016.
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Schoell, Alexandra. Editor, Artcards New York. Editor’s Picks, February, 2015.
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Simpson, Joel. “Winter Salon, Björn Ressle Gallery.” The M Magazine – Inside The Art World, January, 2009.
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Smith, Kevin Montgomery. “Lofty Views.” The Saint Louis Post-Dispatch. Sunday, September 12, 1999. Color Photograph of Maxwell Stevens Painting Installation.
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Solomon Projects. “Maxwell Stevens, Paintings” Exhibition Essay. January, 2018.
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Thoughtgallery. “Maxwell Stevens: Summer Table Paintings at Gallery Onetwentyeight” New York, NY. January/February 2016.
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Time Out World. “Hypercalligraphic at Onetwentyeight.” New York. February, 2015.
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Yomitime. “Maxwell Stevens, Autumn Leaves at Onetwentyeight” Featured Exhibition, November, 2021.
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For all inquiries please visit Gallery Partners.
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MAXWELL STEVENS STUDIO & SHOWROOM
44-02 23RD STREET, SUITE 506
LIC, NEW YORK 11101
T: +1 718 673 0948
info@maxwellstevens.art
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Open to curators and collectors by appointment