ARTIST STATEMENT
In the sun-drenched borderlands of El Paso, Texas, artist Steve Hastings creates paintings that blur the line between reality and dreams, transforming the Chihuahuan desert's flora into portals of spiritual contemplation. His work, deeply rooted in the American Southwest yet transcending literal representation, speaks to both the tangible and intangible aspects of nature. Born in Munich, Germany, Hastings' artistic journey led him to settle in El Paso, where he studied art at the University of Texas.
A pivotal moment in his artistic development came during the 1970s when he visited Santa Fe and encountered Georgia O'Keeffe's work. The experience left an indelible mark on his artistic vision, inspiring Hastings to explore the desert's hidden dimensions through his own unique lens. "Cezanne said what he was trying to paint was nature's eternity, and I think that what we really are is not known to us, it's like behind us," Hastings reflects. This perspective forms the foundation of his approach to painting, where desert flowers and cacti become more than mere subjects—they transform into vehicles for deeper exploration.
Hastings works primarily with large-scale canvases, creating landscape paintings that incorporate elements of magical realism. His focus on cactus plants, particularly their blossoms, reflects an appreciation for these desert survivors. As guardians of life in an unforgiving environment, cacti embody the delicate balance between protection and nurture, their water-storing bodies defended by sharp spines. The artistic process, for Hastings, transcends conscious control. "When I paint things I know I did it but I don't always remember how I did it," he explains. "It tells me how to mix the colors. I don't write it down. They are like happenings, they happen to me." This surrender to the creative process allows him to enter a state of flow where the ego dissolves, making room for something larger to emerge. His reference to "IT"—his term for God or the Universe—reveals the spiritual dimension of his work. "I say It because God is not a man or a woman, it's formless Consciousness, and the universe is inside it," Hastings explains. This cosmic perspective influences how he approaches his subjects, transforming seemingly straightforward botanical studies into something more profound. Magical Realism aptly describes the way Hastings melds everyday desert scenes with elements of the extraordinary.
A cactus might appear recognizable at first glance, but closer inspection reveals subtle distortions and combinations that speak to deeper truths. His paintings become windows into what he calls "nature's eternity," where familiar forms dissolve into dream-like configurations. In our increasingly digital world, Hastings sees his artistic practice as a vital connection to something fundamentally human. Creating art remains one of the few activities where he can engage directly with beauty using imagination and physical craft.
Hastings' hands-on approach to painting stands as a counterpoint to our technology-driven society, offering viewers a chance to connect with something both ancient and immediate. The influence of the European masters, absorbed during his early years in Munich, merges with his love for the American Southwest in his work. This unique fusion of artistic traditions allows Hastings to channel what he calls "the Zeitgeist of my mentors" into his interpretations of desert landscapes, creating works that feel both timeless and contemporary. For Hastings, the creative process parallels spiritual experience. "When I flow it turns off the default mode network which is the ego," he says. "It's like making love, your ego goes away and you two become one being, and then you come back. The essence is watching. If you let the love out you'll be amazed."
His paintings invite viewers to share in this transcendent experience, offering glimpses of what lies beyond ordinary perception. Through his unique vision, the Chihuahuan desert becomes more than a geographical location—it transforms into a landscape of possibility where the physical and spiritual worlds intersect. Each painting begins with nature but evolves into something more personal. "Even though it's a cactus and a scene it's more like a portrait. I guess I'm painting myself," Hastings reflects. "I'm just doing the work, but IT tells me what to do." This approach results in works that function simultaneously as landscape paintings and spiritual self-portraits, each piece revealing both the external world and the artist's inner vision.
SELECTED SOLO SHOWS
2024 Sorrel Sky Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Jane Hamilton Fine Art, Tucson, Arizona
2022 Art Masters, El Paso, Texas
2016 The International Art Museum, El Paso, Texas
2013 The Bass Concert Hall Gallery, Austin, Texas
2004 Art N Space Gallery, La Union, New Mexico
1995 Art Space 2300, El Paso, Texas
1994 The Daniel Quinn Gallery, Long Island City, New York City
1989 The Emerging Collector Gallery, New York City
1986 Young Art, Frankfurt International Airport, Frankfurt, Germany
1985 The Irish Arts Center, New York City
1984 Galeri 27, International Views, Copenhagen, Denmark
Galeri 27, The El Paso Show, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Union Gallery, U.T.E.P., El Paso, Texas
The Hudson Guild, Theme and Variation Show, New York City
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
2024 Xerophile Show, El Paso Frame Company, El Paso, Texas
2020 Art Windows of El Paso International Airport, El Paso, Texas
2019 The International Art Museum 2019 Competition, El Paso, Texas
2019 The Spirit of Texas, Witte Museum, San Antonio, Texas
2018 The International Art Museum 2018 Competition, El Paso, Texas
2016 20/20 Visionary, The Hal Marcus Gallery, El Paso, Texas
2015 The Crossland Gallery, El Paso, Texas
2015 Art Windows of El Paso International Airport, El Paso, Texas
2012 Gallery 1331, El Paso, Texas
1983 The El Paso Fine Arts Festival, El Paso, Texas
The Fox Fine Arts Gallery, U.T.E.P. El Paso, Texas
1981 The Julia Black Gallery, Taos, New Mexico
1980 The Armory, Wash Art ’80, Washington, D.C.
1979 Chameleon Press Gallery, El Paso, Texas
El Museo del Chamizal, Juaréz, Mexico
1978 La Muestra International de Pintura del Chamizal, Juaréz, Mexico
El Museo del Chamizal, Juaréz, Mexico
1977 The U.T.E.P Centennial Museum, El Paso, Texas
