Untitled Study

Steven Labadessa, a native New Yorker (Brooklynite) who is an artist and educator. He is known for his self-portraits that combine hyperbole and psychological texture. His work draws inspiration from many pillars of the Arts, including the dark avant-gardism of Tatsumi Hijikata's Butoh, the choreography of Pina Bausch, the performance, video and installation artist, Vito Acconci, the Romantics Poets (Lord Byron & Percy Shelley, in particular), and extending back to the Northern Renaissance (Hans Memling & Jan Van Eyck, notably).

With an MFA in Painting from the University of Pennsylvania, Steven has taught and exhibited throughout the US, Europe, and Japan. He has studied under notable instructors and critics, including Lennart Anderson, William Beckman, Lee Bontecou, Susanna Coffey, Lois Dodd, Anne Harris, Kurt Kauper, John Moore, and William T. Williams.

Currently, Steven lives, teaches, and maintains an active studio practice in Providence, RI.