Introduction

Steve Harris was born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1953 and is self-taught as an artist. He moved with his wife Karen and two daughters to Australia in 1991 and now resides in Jervis Bay, New South Wales.

“Harris has become well known for his impeccably painted still life compositions, his skilful use of light, shadow and space being a hallmark of his approach. He generally tends to depict objects which have an everyday function or perhaps have even been discarded, but the work is about much more than simple representation. Harris is a master of understated realism which in turn evokes its own sense of ‘atmosphere’ and contemplative mood. His works have been described as ‘meditations in light’; and this is very much the feeling one has when attending one of Harris’s exhibitions – a type of reflective silence emanates from the paintings and imbues them with a spiritual quality that one would not, perhaps anticipate.”

Nevill Drury
Images 2 – Australian Contemporary Painting
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