About the Artist
Steven Swimmer is a mixed-media artist who uses photography and digital media to create layered works that have striking visuals and often layered meanings. Nearly all of the photo imagery in his artworks are from original photographs or drawings, often manipulated and layered. His images are infused with color, texture and meaning, often combined into dense textures.
This technique grew out of earlier analog techniques of manipulating and layering photographic slides and negatives. This was done with various processes in-camera, in darkrooms and by manipulating negatives, slides or prints.
These manipulated images were printed and projected in multimedia installations before Swimmer had access to computers powerful enough to do the same digitally. He later applied these techniques in a digital realm where he could create dozens or even hundreds of layers to achieve a painterly quality in his digital art.
Swimmer worked as a web & digital media producer at the J.Paul Getty Trust, for 11 years, which gave him daily interaction with the art collections as well as curators, researchers and the many artists who worked there. While there, Swimmer participated in the legendary “Getty Underground” art exhibitions that have gotten the attention and praise of the Los Angeles Times and other media outlets.
He grow-up in a family of artists and has created art seriously since 1982, although he first started a childhood version of art photography at the age of 7 years old.
Swimmer is also a web and digital media producer who’s worked on award winning and large consumer facing web sites since 1996. He’s been an indie film and video producer as well as a Standup Comedian who can be seen on stage at LA venues, including the World Famous Comedy Store.
Art Exhibitions:
2011 - Summer Break 2011 – Emerging To Established – A Gallery Artist Group Show
Maximillian Gallery at the Sunset Marquis, West Hollywood, CA
2006 - The Getty Underground, Group Show,
J. Paul Getty Museum, Brentwood, CA
2006 - Snap to Grid, Group Show
LACDA, Los Angeles, Center for Digital Art, Los Angeles, CA
2004 - The Getty Underground, Group Show
J. Paul Getty Museum, Brentwood, CA
2002 - The Getty Underground, Group Show
J. Paul Getty Museum, Brentwood, CA
2000 - The Getty Underground, Group Show
J. Paul Getty Museum, Brentwood, CA
1998 - The Getty Underground, Group Show
J. Paul Getty Museum, Brentwood, CA
1980s – Various Dates - UCLA Student Exhibitions
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Video & Multi-Media Art (Selected among many)
1997 - Juxtapose Yourself Website
Created one of the first websites that was purely interactive art, with no information or message, Juxtapose.com
1995 – Wadada, Peach Love & Harmony Music Video,
Directed a music video with layered visual artistry that looks nearly the same as the Apple iPod commercials that came years later. For Black Sages Productions, Los Angeles, CA
1980s – Multimedia Installation, Group Art Show
M Gallery, Long Beach, CA
1980s - Various Dates – Altered Visions – Manipulated photo slideshow
Club Soda, Los Angeles, CA
1980s - Various Dates – Altered Visions II – Manipulated photo slideshow
Kick Club, Los Angeles, CA
1980s – Various Dates – UCLA Student Exhibitions
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Education:
MFA (Master of Fine Arts), Cinema/Television Production from USC School of Cinematic Arts
BA in Philosophy: UCLA College of Letters and Sciences
Also Notable:
1999-2000 – Dean’s Advisory Panel
Advised on development of a new multimedia arts education program
Art Institute, Santa Monica, CA
