“Simply put, I believe my work is about the act of painting.” Born in Chicago, Stephen Metcalf grew up in the Midwest. As a child he practiced drawing and painting and by the time he started art school at the University of Illinois his drafting skills could mimic photographs. Frustrated by the tedious nature and predictability of this process, he decided to reinvent himself as an artist and as a graduate printmaking student at the University of Illinois he produced mixed media paintings and large scale works on paper that were recognized by their inclusion in major exhibitions like Drawings USA 77 at the Minnesota Museum of Art and Works on Paper at the Art Institute of Chicago. After receiving his MFA in art and design, Stephen had produced hundreds of paintings which are represented in public, private, and corporate collections throughout the United States, including the Illinois State Museum, The Minnesota Museum of Art, the Kirkwood Center Hotel, the U.S. Military Hospital on Nellis Airbase, and the Cleveland Clinic. “My paintings, which are non-objective, have influences in the environment. As a painter, my journey is one of discovery through the exploration of ideas, materials, and process. My techniques, which are my own, were not learned or invented in order to paint but were discovered through the act of painting. Each painting is a record of my journey and I invite you to engage in your own personal dialogue with them." After a long battle against Parkinson's disease, Stephen passed away on August 22, 2020 at the age of 71.