STATEMENT / BIO

I am currently making work that stars a community of anthropomorphic frogs who are interacting with art and technology in a way that appears new to them. I’m painting these scenes simply and directly, leaning on the fast drying nature of acrylic paint to quickly make, sometimes major, adjustments to the composition. The work leaves symbolism and metaphor to do the heavy lifting, providing context, mystery and puzzling juxtapositions. As these frogs continue to evolve so does the technology they interact with. When I started this work I planned for a much more hopeful future for these frogs, but as the work develops, and having experienced how modern technology effects our own lives, it’s hard to be as optimistic. There is no linear timeline for these works, as the maker, I take full liberty to seek out and  investigate any pocket of this seemingly parallel world.

Ethan Stuart ( b.1989) is a painter who’s playful imagery employs a community of human like frogs to indirectly address the sociopolitical concerns of the artist. He attended Pratt Munson Williams Proctor in 2007 where he was awarded the Fran Fiorentino Memorial Award for his achievements in drawing. He then transferred to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and studied with members of “The Hairy Who” such as Karl Wirsum and Jim Nutt. Influences that would arrive much later in Ethan’s work with lasting impact. Since then Ethan has been featured in the London painting publication Art Maze on several occasions, most recently issue 17 with a featured artist interview. In December of 2019, Ethan attended a residency at Vermont Studio Center where his work would turn from personal memory towards a more allegorical approach. Landing him a group show with Part 2 Gallery in Los Angeles in January, 2020. In March of 2021 Ethan completed his first solo show with Part 2 Galleries in Oakland, CA, entitled “Making A Space”. 

Ethan John Stuart most recently finds himself making work out of a barn studio in Califon, NJ after having moved from Santa Monica, CA during the pandemic.