Helen Steele is an artist/teacher who works in different techniques such as acrylics, printmaking, oil and encaustics. Her work is not about the human figure, an exploitation of the body, more so an exploration into the human soul, a witnessing of the human spirit. Her approach is intuitive, suggesting rather than detailing. 1961 1982 – 1987 1987 1987 1987-1988 1988 1991-2005 1988 Born in Immenstadt, Germany Studied at the Ludwigs Maximilian University in Munich Earned Master’s Degree in Art Education, Art History and Psychology. Moved to Los Angeles, CA Multiple exhibitions in Los Angeles, CA Moved to San Rafael, CA Art instructor Current Exhibitions in Northern California, Colorado and Germany. “my compositions are never preconceived, yet my themes are recurrent: the use of the figure as the means of investigating various psychological states: harmony, serenity, anxiety, isolation…. the figure is my starting point, not my true subject. my subjects are human presence and absence. my approach is intuitive, suggesting rather than detailing. as i work and rework my canvas the image appears sometimes only to elude me then to reassert itself much later. i work in multiple layers with buried images and words. paint is wiped off and layers are peeled yielding the emerging image. symbolic markings, personal imagery, shapes and words appear, questions arise. intimacy is translated through the sensuality of line, the simplest and subtlest of my tools. the line can be bold and assertive or sublime and quite sensual.” – Helen Steele
