Stevens Vaughn
Biography History and Career
Stevens Vaughn is a conceptual artist, sculptor, and ritualistic painter whose work transcends geographical boundaries and materials to explore the essence of human experience. From his origins in the American Midwest to his deep immersion in the millenary traditions of Asia, Vaughn has forged a unique visual language that acts as a bridge between cultures.
His artistic practice is not limited to a single medium; he moves fluidly between glass and ceramic sculpture, industrial design, and performance art. Influenced by anthropology and Eastern philosophies such as Taoism and the Shibui aesthetic, Vaughn seeks perfection through imperfection and dialogue with nature. He is globally recognized for his "Water Calligraphy," an action painting technique that captures the ephemeral energy of the moment, and for his monumental installations that invite the viewer to become the center of their own universe.
Based between China and Chile, Stevens Vaughn continues to redefine contemporary art, fusing ancient techniques with a modern, global sensibility.
Biography & History Chronological
Bio
Stevens Vaughn was born in Fairmont, Minnesota (USA), where he grew up on a cattle farm. His artistic and professional path is characterized by a deep immersion in Asian cultures and a constant exploration of Eastern materials and philosophies.
Chronology Bio (1978-1996)
Sent by the Peace Corps to the Philippines to work in tropical agriculture. This journey marked the beginning of his lifelong relationship with anthropology, Asian art, history, and mythology.
1978-1996
Established a glass sculpture and blowing studio in Hsinchu, Taiwan. During this period, he designed media for major retailers in the United States (such as Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's) and produced design work in Limoges (France) and Murano (Italy).
1988
Hired as Vice President of Fitz and Floyd and sent to Japan to learn ceramic sculpting and painting techniques. There, he was deeply influenced by Shibui aesthetics and the concept of Ma (negative space), learning that "imperfection is essential to creating a state of perfection."
1991
Spent a year in Cuernavaca, Mexico, developing a porcelain studio based on his learnings in Asia.
1992
Moved to Sri Lanka, while maintaining continuous artistic residencies in China and Japan.
1996
Moved permanently to the historic island of Gulangyu in Fujian, China. There, he played a major role in the development of porcelain art in the cities of Chaozhou and Dehua.
Chronology Bio (1978-1996)
Developed his technique of "performative action painting," described as a "calligraphy of water," utilizing the instability of water-based media. He has collaborated for over 14 years with Danish artist Bjørn Nørgaard, acting as a technical advisor for the construction of the crystal sarcophagus for Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
Present: Works between his studios in Dehua (China) and Valparaíso (Chile), creating works that merge traditional techniques with contemporary concepts of human interactivity.
CV & Professional Milestones
Education and Early Research
1981
Cultural Anthropology Studies – Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.
1982
Anthropological Field Studies – Villa Rachictisa, Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia.
Teaching and Academic Positions
1979
Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and Religion – De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines.
1982
Glass Blowing Workshop – Hsinchu, Taiwan.
2006
Appointed Professor at the Dieter Roth Academy, Gulangyu, China.
1982
Anthropological Field Studies – Villa Rachictisa, Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia.
Adjunct Professor at the Dehua Ceramics Institute and lecturer at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing.
Management and Design
1984
Founder of glass and design studio in Taiwan. Designer for international firms.
1988
Vice President of Fitz and Floyd (Japan/Asia). Development of porcelain studios in Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, and China.
Exhibition History
1980s and 1990
1988/1996
Nagoya & Kyoto, Japan – "Shi Bui - Imperfection as it relates to art of painting and sculpture"
2007/2008
Copenhagen, Denmark – "Riding the Tiger" (Galleri Susanne Ottesen)
2012
Xiamen, China – "Construction/Deconstruction" (TDK Center, Xiamen University)
2013
Quanzhou, China – "Water is a Color" (Rolling Snowball/4 - CEAC)
2014
Xiamen, China – "Water is a Color" (Nothing Gallery, Solo Exhibition)
2014/2015
Mar del Plata, Argentina / Valparaíso, Chile – IV Bienal del Fin del Mundo
2015
Valparaíso, Chile – "Bienal del Fin del Mundo" (IV Edition)
2013
Quanzhou, China – "Water is a Color" (Rolling Snowball/4 - CEAC)
2015
Valparaíso, Chile – "Utopia Distopia"
2015
Valparaíso, Chile – "Shadows and Membranes"
2015
Valparaíso, Chile – "Bienal del Fin del Mundo" (IV Edition)
2015
Venice, Italy – "Calligraphy of Water" (Palazzo Dolfin Bollani)
2015
Valparaíso, Chile – "Utopia Distopia"
2015
Djupivogur, Iceland – "Primordials" (Rolling Snowball 6)
2015
Valparaíso, Chile – "Bienal del Fin del Mundo" (IV Edition)
2015
Xiamen, China – "Stevens and Siggi the Butcher" (Nothing Gallery)
2015
Turin, Italy – "Calligraphy of Water" (Innerspace 17)
2015
Rome, Italy – "Stevens Vaughn live at MAAM" (Museo dell'Altro e dell'Altrove, Solo Exhibition)
2015
Formello, Italy – "DIF - Museo Diffuso Di Formello"
2016
Messina, Italy – "Il Primato Dello Sguardo" (Palacultura Antonio Da Messina)
2016
Carrara, Italy – "La Memoria Della Forma" (Centro Arti Plastiche)
2016
Milazzo, Italy – "Oltre la visione" (Le carceri, Castello di Milazzo)
2016
Brazzaville, Congo – "Calligraphie à l'eau" (Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza Memorial)
2016
Sofia, Bulgaria – "The Rebirth of colors" (Sofia National Gallery)
Exhibiciones 2017
Xiamen, China – "Between Sand & Water" (Hafnia Gallery)
2017
London, UK – "Baptism of color" (ArtRooms)
2017
Buenos Aires, Argentina – "Como tinte que fluye" (Pabellón de las Bellas Artes de la UCA)
2017
Rome, Italy – "China: Rivoluzione - Evoluzione" (Museo di Roma in Trastevere)
2017
Xiamen, China – "Stevens Vaughn & Bjørn Nørgaard" (Nothing Gallery)
2017
Nanjing, China – "Fusion" (Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts - AMNUA)
2018
London, UK – "Stevens Vaughn solo exhibition" (Le Dame Art Gallery)
2018
Rome, Italy – "Chromatics surfaces" (Tibaldi Arte Contemporanea)
2019
Ningbo, China – "Art is being surprised" (Huamao International Art Association)
2019
Chongqing, China – "Wulong Lanba Art Festival" (Performance and Exhibition)
2020
Santiago, Chile – "Ch.ACO 2020" (Santiago Art Fair with Nothing Gallery)
2020
Aarhus, Denmark – "Iron Ladies and Red Stockings" (Aarhus Women's Museum)
2022
Lorne, Victoria, Australia – "Lorne Sculpture Biennale 2022"
2022
Monumental Sculpture & Public Ritual. Stevens Vaughn made a significant impact at the Lorne Sculpture Biennale in Victoria, Australia. Responding to the theme "Sense of Place," Vaughn installed "The Throne of Potentiality", a monumental 4.5-meter bronze sculpture situated on the Lorne Pier. This work served as a site of contemporary ritual, inviting viewers to interact with the piece as a symbolic closure to the global isolation of the pandemic era, reconnecting the public with the vastness of the ocean and the horizon.
2023
Return to Intimacy and Painting. ollowing his monumental sculptural work, 2023 marked a shift towards a more intimate studio practice. Stevens Vaughn held a notable Solo Exhibition in Brooklyn, New York, at the Maja Graystone Gallery. Departing from large-scale installations, the artist presented a new series of oil on canvas works, including "Zoom in" (2023) and "Stairway to Heaven" (2023). These pieces demonstrate an evolution in his visual language, translating his mastery of space and "Ma" (negative space) onto the two-dimensional plane.
2023
Group Exhibitions & Series Development. Alongside his solo debut in New York, Vaughn participated in group exhibitions featuring works such as "Still Life" and "Window" (2022-2023). This period highlights a prolific exploration of color and texture, moving between the abstract dynamism of his "Water Calligraphy" roots and a more structured, yet ethereal, pictorial approach.
2024
Present: Global Synthesis. Currently, Stevens Vaughn continues to divide his creative production between his studios in Dehua, China, and Valparaíso, Chile. His current work focuses on synthesizing the raw materiality of his sculptures with the fluid expression of his recent paintings. He remains dedicated to the philosophy of the "imperfect," creating art that acts as a bridge between Eastern tradition and Western contemporary thought.