Steve Perrault : Drawing on Images ~ Paintings

 

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Steve Perrault’s background in art, philosophy, theology, and clinical psychology creates a mysterious connection and deep appreciation of the incongruent aspects of life. For ten years, working as a psychotherapist, he shared the lives of many in community mental health, juvenile corrections, and private psychological services environments. 

Born and raised in Minneapolis, at age 17 Perrault entered Catholic seminary. For 13 years he lived in the context of seminary and religious life, working in ministerial settings in five states, including three years as chaplain of a New York jail. These experiences provided the artist with the opportunity to experience environments of architecture with light and darkness, containment and expansion.

At age 30, Steve no longer felt a religious calling and left the sheltered walls of the monastery. He moved to inner-city Chicago, residing there for 15 years. It was during this period that he began painting. He now lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, after moving from Portland, Oregon.

Perrault’s paintings are instantly recognizable, each with its architectural space opening to the natural landscape, and its iconic red bench. Every picture stands alone, and draws the viewer in with its beauty and its powerful serenity. But the real power of Perrault’s artistry is evident in the whole body of his work. From canvas to canvas, the color and direction of the light changes, the interior architectural shapes are altered, the landscape is challenging or benign, and the red bench morphs from square to elongated, taking positions of varying safety and exposure in the composition. Every image carries its own meaning and its own mood, and it is clear that Perrault’s meditative journey is rich and authentic and alive.

For more information about Steve Perrault, visit www.sjperrault.com.

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