Steven Sylvester

Steven Sylvester reports that from his earliest memories he has always felt a “Kindred Spirit” type feeling about being an artist. “I have an uncanny knack for positioning myself to be where and when I need to be. I feel as if I’m being guided on my art journey,” reports Sylvester.

Steven still has possession of the first two clay items that he made. They are a small, hand crafted whale on waves with blue colored glaze, made at age 8 and an ashtray made at age 10. These two items frequently are included in Steven’s Show & Tell type discussions.

Between the ages of 14-17 Steven Sylvester completed a series of oil and acrylic paintings that were abstract in nature. Steven laughs when he reports that it was at this time that his father encouraged him not to pursue art as a career choice. “I can remember being frustrated with him at the time, but now looking back at the quality of the work, I can’t help but chuckle. My father loved me and always had my best interest in mind”.

Steven initially entered the profession of social work. In 1993 he became the owner of a wholesale/retail clay art manufacturing and supply business in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, thus opening the doors for exposure to creativity. Selling the business in 2003 allowed for his total immersion in the creative process.

Pursuing his interest in large scale installations, Steven was awarded an Individual Artist Enhancement Award Grant by the State of Florida in October, 2006. This allowed him to participate in a week- long International Architectural Ceramics Symposium held in St. Petersburg, Florida. At the symposium Steven studied under internationally known ceramic artists Peter King, Xinia Marin, Stan Bitters and Gwen Heeney.

January through April of 2007 found Steven to be involved in an after school setting. His involvement was to educate children about clay art while incorporating an environmental learning module. Two elementary schools and 150 children participated with the resulting three-dimensional ceramic wall tile project being shown at exhibit.

Steven Sylvester’s current work-in-progress series of life size ladies’ clay and mixed media dresses continues to be widely received. He is using this body of work to establish his art identity, branding and subsequent body of work as a serious addition to the successful, contemporary artist community.

Steven looks forward to January 2008 when he will reunite with large scale ceramic installation artist Peter King at the Coral Springs Museum of Art, Coral Springs, Florida. Steven will apprentice under Peter King for an approximate two and a half months, which will include two workshops and a large scale installation at the museum.

Steven’s exhibitions include:

June, 2007 Art Florida 07, a Broward Art Guild completion-exhibition, expanding on the tradition of the prestigious Hortt competition, ArtServe Gallery, Fort lauderdale, Florida. Juried admission and juried show, one piece, clay, mixed media.

May, 2007 Mix It Up, a mixed-media exhibition, ArtServe Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Juried entrance, two pieces, clay, mixed media. Awarded People's Choice.

April, 2007 Eco-Art Exhibition, ArtServe Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Artist participation by invitation. Ecology/art project in after school setting, 150 students three-dimensional ceramic wall tile project. A traveling exhibit, four community partners.

November, 2006 Mud Wrestling With A Creative Ending, ArtsUnited, Stonewall Library and Archives, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Solo exhibit. Clay, Mixed Media.

June, 2003 United and Proud, ArtsUnited, Gallery Six, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Member group exhibit. Clay.

April, 1999 Celebrating The Human Form, Body Conscious Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Selected group exhibit. Clay, Mixed Media.