Body Mask

This is the photographic progression of a work I call "Body Mask". It is acrylic paint on plexiglas over a gridded photograph, printed in color and black and white. Size 24 x 9 inches, 2008.

Love, Lover and Beloved

"Love," Paint on Canvas, 70 x 57 inches, 2008

"Lover," Paint on Canvas, 61 x 50 inches, 2008

"Beloved," Paint on Canvas, 96 x 58 inches, 2008

Sufis believe that all is connected as part of God. One way to describe God is through the phrase "God is Love, Lover and Beloved," made known by the famous poet Rumi. I've created 3 paintings to describe my idea of what it means to be human, have feelings and be part of all that is connected.

Hand, Heart and Skull

This is a series of three works that I feel are connected. It is like an update of human body paintings I have done in the past, but also about the now. Probably the first interest I had in painting the body was 10 years ago, and I felt that I was somehow revising that work. In those paintings from a decade ago, I worked with depicting parts of the body in fields of black & white. Hands, torsos, hearts and skulls were the majority of the subjects.
So this is also a return to the body after much artwork revolving around energy.

I hope you enjoy the art.


"Hand", Paint and Egg Yolk on Plexiglas, 12 x 8.5 inches, 2008
The first painting was this Hand. I posed for myself. Does it look like my hand?

"Heart of Allah", Paint and Egg Yolk on Plexiglas, 12 x 8.5 inches, 2008
This is the reverse side of the Hand painting. On the heart is an Arabic script for the word Allah.

"Skull of Light", Paint and Egg Yolk on Wood Panel, 12 x 13 inches, 2008
This was the third painting and as I painted I felt an increasing pull toward light. There is a glow around this skull. Praise to the human body!

Flatfile Show

Hi friends. Here are a couple of pics of my work in a current show. I've included selections of the work that might not be on my website (www.stevepanella.com), as well as a couple of views of the whole show of my work. Click on images for larger views. Enjoy!

View upon entering the basement level of Flatfile Gallery.

View of Steve Panella's wall of text-based work.

"b I ble", Transformed Book, Approx. 20 x 12 x 2 inches, 2006

"b I ble" Detail. Feel free to click on image for larger image.

"b I ble" Detail. Can you see the ''I's" under all the other text.

"Cigarette Butts", Transformed Books, sizes variable, 2004

"Skeleton of a Page", Transformed Book Page, 7 x 10 inches, 2004-2008. The page is perforated and displayed to create a cast shadow. The art hangs between the wall and a piece of plexiglas.

"Skeleton of a Page" Detail.

"Book Stones", Transformed Books, Sizes Variable, 2003-2007
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I am thankful for Andy Thomas and Flatfile Gallery in Chicago who made this show possible. I met Andy two years ago while I was peddling my art around the Chicago area. He liked my work and later scheduled a show of text-based art at Flatfile Gallery for their next available opening in February 2008. I believe it was early in 2006 when we met. Thanks Andy!
The other three artists in the show are Nate Larson, Monika Wulfers and Rachel Foster. Glad to meet you all!

HiTea Show

These are a couple of photos of my art on the walls at HiTea (link here) tea house in Chicago. Located at 14 East 11th Street, it is a nice place with good atmosphere and very friendly staff. I am grateful to them for hosting a show of my artwork, as well as to Brantley Roden for his assistance in setting things up. Brantley arranges for art to be shown at HiTea and is an artist himself. Here is a link to his website.
The folks in the photos are some chaps enjoying the atmosphere, tea, food and free internet the establishment has to offer. Thank you guys!

"Sun" Acrylic on Canvas, 2008. I will probably paint over this canvas. :^D

"Unititled" Acrylic on Canvas, 2007. Approximately 30 inches x 20 inches. This painting started out with a painting of a body, then a heart and finally ended up as a black and white and color field of energy.

"Space" Acrylic on Canvas, 2008. This painting is about 6 feet tall x 4.5 feet wide. Good painting, not so good photo. I promise to get a better photo posted soon as this is part of a triptych that I am eager to post here and show in public.

Moon, Blue

This painting is a revision of the previous painting (just below). Almost like an entirely different painting now.

Two Paintings

Paint on canvas, 60 x 96 inches, 2008

Paint on Canvas, 49 x 61 inches, 2007

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I can't help but think of the bleak days and the cold days here in Chicago when I look at these paintings. They were as difficult to keep going on as it is to get out of bed some days. Alas, when I estimate their value, they helped me cope with a few winter days.. and gave me something greater to put my energy toward.

I plan on showing these and other paintings in various establishments in Chicago. I will update my blog with photos when the shows go up. Happy New Year friends!

Big Red

Acrylic Paint on Canvas, 8 x 8 feet, 2007

Paintings and Studio

"Pink and Green," Acrylic Paint, 18 x 18 inches, 2007

"Red Soul and Flows," Acrylic Paint, 24 x 24 inches, 2007

"Red Radiating," Acrylic Paint, 40 x 30 inches, 2007


"Yellow Ring," Acrylic Paint on Canvas, 36 x 36 inches, 2007


"Black and White Radiating," Acrylic Paint on Unstretched Canvas, 78 x 70 inches, 2007


My Studio (and Bedroom)
On the ground is a canvas I am stretching that is 8 x 8 Feet!


Lulu the Cat (overseer and art critic)

Me in my Studio standing in front of my just begun 8 x 8 Feet Painting!

Shelf Tower

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Something purely fun: I transformed a bunch of ABC blocks that children like to play with into a shelving unit that resembles a tower. I used some found wood, ABC blocks I bought on Ebay, glue and nails to create this artwork.

The second photo has my hand in it so you can get a sense for the size of the shelves. There are a couple of knick-knacks on the bottom shelf, and it's likely that knick-knacks are what the shelves could be used to hold.

Thanks for viewing.

Original Artwork by Steve Panella, 2007

Fabric Mandala

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Fabric Mandala, approx 40 x 40 inches, Cut fabric triangles arranged on canvas according to color.

Original Artwork by Steve Panella, 2007

Magic Chakra

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Magic Chakra, approx 3 feet x 3 feet, constructed of magazine covers in which the images change when you hold the cover at an angle.
The Chakra artworks I've done have become crowd favorites and I plan to make more. Please let me know if ever you are interested in a print... I can have them available immediately and shipped out within a day.

As always thank you for viewing my work, I love to hear your comments!

Art by Steve Panella, 2007

An Orange Soul

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Immediately after taking the top photo, I thought this is what a soul looks like. I have no proof except for the belief I have in my intuition.
Top photo is the soul, bottom photo is the same artwork in focus.

Artwork by Steve Panella, 2007

Radiating Heart

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Radiating Heart, Approx 4 feet tall x 3 feet wide, Created using paint on plexiglas, paint on both front and back can be seen. Inspired by a specific teacher who continually has showed me how to feel and be in my heart. Thank you.

Artwork by Steve Panella, 2007

Magic I (Eye)

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Magic I (Eye), approx 3 feet x 3 feet, created with a "Magic Eye" book
that was shredded in a paper shredder and arranged in a circular pattern to resemble the iris and pupil of an eye.

Art by Steve Panella, 2006

Body Mandala

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Body Mandala, 7 x 7 feet in dimension. Constructed of cut 3 Dimensional Anatomical Charts - these are the shiny or colored diamond shaped pieces that construct the entire mandala.
I've included an image of the anatomy charts used to create the artwork.

Artwork by Steve Panella, 2007