Steve Keister summons fabulous creatures and mysterious animal human hybrids from glazed ceramics, coated cardboard, wood and acrylic paints. The artist’s current exhibition, Split level At Derek Eller Gallery, a survey of works conducted over the past eight years, glimpses of the artist’s ongoing exploration of pre-Colombian art and architecture.
Keister’s mixed media sculptures initially emerged from experiments with salvaged styrofoamed polystyrene and cardboard packaging cartons that evoke bold, block-like forms of Central American architecture such as Aztec Stone Carvings and Mayan Step Pyramids.
Through the ongoing series BATZ BIO MESO, and Masked characters, Keister blends painting, sculpture and craft techniques into what the three-dimensional gallery describes as “customized deity paying homage to pre-Colombian mythology.” Certain creatures, such as “Xoloitzcuintle”, represent real animals, in this case a hairless dog.
Mixed animals such as “Stand Bat II” and “Coyalwolf” intervene in oral history and belief systems across North America. Bats have historically been a symbol of the boundary between life and death. Coyotes are powerful characters in many North American folklore, and are magicians, creators, teethers and liars.
Keister’s works range from wall relief to freestanding, monument-like sculptures to fragments of floors. “His spiritual core is a deep interest in human and animal consciousness,” the gallery said. “Keister inferred his theme from the Chinese-American mythology to develop a complex ecosystem of mysterious animals.”
Split level It lasts until August 22 in New York City. Explore more on the artist’s website.
