Painting is a world that exists in the realm of the mind. Like the physical world it has origins and histories. It has its own wars, borders, kings, heroes, and penniless paupers. Painting is ruled by laws that are always changing, but guided by certain timeless principles. It is made up of multiple continents that vary in climate and terrain. Those who have stood long at its thresholds and peered in its windows will recognize it when they see it, however different it may look from any particular vantage point. Its citizens are fluent in its languages and familiar with its customs. Their occupation is to build new rooms or even villages for others to visit, inhabit, or merely peek into from the physical world through portals called “pictures”.
I have dedicated my life so far to looking at painting, learning to know and understand it. I paint in attempt to enter it and explore places where others have been. By following in the footsteps of masters who went before me, I may even find a place in which to cut my own path. Whether or not I am ever counted a citizen will be for history to judge, but for now I am content just being caught up in an adventure that is bigger than myself and trying to put a piece of it down on canvas.
I Currently work and reside in Little Rock, Arkansas with my wife, Amy, and God has blessed us with six beautiful children.
BORN
1976
Nurnberg, Germany
EDUCATION
2004
M.F.A. • Indiana University • Bloomington, IN
1999-2001
Independent Studies • Steven Assael • New York, NY
1999
Studio Assistant • Jeff Koons • New York, NY
1999
B.F.A. • School of Visual Arts • New York, NY
TEACHING
2009-Present
Cefalo Studio • Independent Workshops in Drawing and Painting • Little Rock, AR
2006-2009
Artist in Residence • University of Arkansas at Little Rock • Little Rock, AR
2004-2006
Art Academy of Cincinnati • Cincinnati, OH
2003-2004
Indiana University • Bloomington, IN
GRANTS/AWARDS
2003-2004
Grant in-aid-of research award
2003-2004
Indiana University Arts & Science Scholarship
2003
Dr. Harriet McNeil Award of Distinction • Swope Art Museum • Terre Haute, IN
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2009
- Norton Arts • Little Rock, AR
2008
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock • Encounters: Recent Paintings by Stephen Cefalo • Little Rock, AR
- Olivet Nazarene University • Bourbonnais, IL
2007
- Sarah Bain Gallery • Anaheim, CA
- Gallery Sorelle • Little Rock, AR
2006
- The Carnegie Center for Visual and Performing Arts • Stephen Cefalo: Recent Works • Covington, KY
2004
- 320 Gallery • Stephen Cefalo Drawings and Paintings • Newburgh, IN
- Indiana University Art Museum • MFA thesis exhibition • Bloomington, IN
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2010
- Principle Gallery• Between Realities• Alexandria, VA
2009
- Boswell Mourot Gallery• Little Rock, AR
2008
- Klaudia Marr Gallery • Still Lifes, Objects, and Other Narratives • Santa Fe, NM
- Klaudia Marr Gallery • 14th Annual Realism Invitational • Santa Fe, NM
- Stefano’s Gallery • Nude Show • Little Rock, AR
- Sarah Bain Gallery • Objects of Desire • Anaheim, CA
2007
- Sarah Bain Gallery • The Holiday Show • Anaheim, CA
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock • UALR Art Faculty Biennial • Little Rock, AR
- Arkansas Community Arts Cooperative • Ten on Ten • Little Rock, AR
2006
- FACTS • Little Rock, AR
- Sarah Bain Gallery • Small Works • Anaheim, CA
- Klaudia Marr Gallery • 13th Annual Realism Invitational • Santa Fe, NM
- American Artists Professional League, Inc. • Salmagundi Club, Seventy-Eighth Grand National Exhibition • New York, NY
- Ann Nathan Gallery • Winter Show • Chicago, IL
- The Ascent at Roebling’s Bridge • Visions of the River • Covington, KY
- Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts • Deconstruction and Reconstruction: The Family, Experience • Tallahassee, FL
- Art Academy of Cincinnati • 19th Annual Minumental Exhibition • Cincinnati, OH
- Cincinnati Art Museum • Portrait Miniatures - Cincy Style • Cincinnati, OH
- Fort Wayne Museum of Art • 2006 Biennial: Contemporary American Realism • Fort Wayne, IN
2005
- Miller Gallery • Objects of Desire XIV • Cincinnati, OH
- The Pearlman Gallery - Art Academy of Cincinnati • West of Eden • Cincinnati, OH
- Miller Gallery • The Anniversary Show • Cincinnati, OH
- The Gallery at Northern Kentucky University • Re-Visions: Regional Painters • Highland Heights, KY
- Art Academy of Cincinnati • 18th Annual Minumental Exhibition • Cincinnati, OH
- University of Indianapolis • Interpretations of the Figure 2005 • Indianapolis, IN
- Miller Gallery • The Nude Show: Heavenly Bodies • Cincinnati, OH
2004
- Koplin Del Rio Gallery • Drawings VII • West Hollywood, CA
- Circle Gallery • Go Figure Exhibition • Annapolis, MD
- Miller Gallery • Small Works • Cincinnati, OH
2003
- Swope Art Museum • 59th Annual Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition • (Juried by Mr. Lawrence Rinder, Curator of Contemporary Art, Whitney Museum of American Art) • Terre Haute, IN
- SoFA Gallery, Indiana University • MFA Painting • Bloomington, IN
- Earlham College • Annual Earlham Invitational • Earlham, IN
Articles, Publications
Strokes of Genius 2: The Best of Light and Shadow, Rubin Wolf, North Light Books, 2009
American Artist Workshop Magazine, "10 Concrete Solutions For Figure Painting", Feature Article, Fall 2009
O&S Magazine, Feature Article With Interview, Volume 2, Issue !, January 2009
Journal Santa Fe, “Found Objects”, Review with photo of artwork, Friday, March 28, 2008
Arkansas Democrat Gazette, “Personal Space: Stephen Cefalo”, Interview with photograph of the artist, Saturday, April 5, 2008
SYNC Magazine, "In Pursuit of the Portrait", Feature Article with interview and cover photo, March 9, 2008
American Art Collector, “Calling Coast to Coast!”, August 2007
The Artist's Magazine, “At Home With the Human Experience”, Feature article, May 2007
Arkansas Democrat Gazette, “New UALR Artist in Residence” photograph with headline and caption and image of artwork, Little Rock, AR, Saturday, September 9, 2006
Cincinnati Enquirer, exhibition Review with photograph, Cincinnati, OH, Friday, April 7, 2006
Los Angeles Times, exhibition review, Los Angeles, CA, Friday, August 27, 2004
Savannah Morning News, exhibition review with photograph, Savannah, GA, Sunday, December 10, 2000
Creative Loafing, exhibition review with photograph, Savannah, GA, December 15, 2000
The Campus Chronicle, exhibition review, Savannah, GA, December 15, 2000
Portfolio 20, image selected for annual publication, New York, NY, 1999
PRESENTATIONS, MEDIA APPEARANCES
2007
Arts Scene • Arkansas Public Radio, interview hosted by Ann Nicholson, KUAR FM 89 • June 2nd, 2007
2006
Miller Gallery • Artists On the Square demonstration • Stephen Cefalo: Figurative Narratives • Cincinnati, OH
SELECTED PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
The Howard A. and Judith Tullman Collection • Chicago, IL
Savannah College of Art and Design, Permanent Collection • Savannah, GA
Art Academy of Cincinnati • Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati Art Museum • Cincinnati, OH
Gregory Smith, President of Art Academy of Cincinnati • Cincinnati, OH
Florida State University Museum of Fine Art • Tallahassee, FL
Dr. Reed and Rebecca Thompson • Little Rock, AR
P. Allen Smith, Commissioned Portrait • Little Rock, AR
