Stephen Coyle
Where the Land Ends

Paul Thiebaud Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of Stephen Coyle: Where the Land Ends, on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, with a reception on Saturday, November 18th from 3-5pm and an artist talk at 3:30pm.  On view will be ten new alkyd paintings of expansive views along the National Seashore on Cape Cod, beachgoers relaxing in the sand, and a selection of floral still lifes.  Created during the Covid-19 pandemic, Coyle’s paintings simultaneously convey a sense of reflection and transcendence in the face of the period they were created.  The exhibition is on view through January 27, 2024. 

Utilizing rollers, large brushes, trowels, nails, and sandpaper to apply the alkyd paint onto panels, Stephen Coyle’s use of color has shifted in his most recent body of work, and along with it the mood of his paintings.  Gone are the bright whites and stark contrasts found in his previous beach scenes.  In their place are cool blues, greys, and browns that are set off by vibrant pinks and greens.  In his still life paintings of flowers, Coyle’s silhouetted arrangements are set against black backgrounds, highlighting the colors of their petals and emphasizing their fragility.

The subtext beneath these works is a recognition of how the epidemic has shifted our perceptions of everyday life.  With titles such as Introspection, Refuge, Laughter in the Shadows, and Meanwhile Life Goes On, Coyle touches on the moments of transformation we collectively experienced and overcame during 2020-2022.  Employing a white border to frame each scene, the compositions recall postcards and vintage photographs, giving viewers the sense that the events that inspired these works are firmly in the past and can now be reflected on from a distance. 

Born in Waltham, MA, Stephen Coyle received an associate degree from Grahm Junior College, Boston, in film, theater and radio production.  While he later took an art class at Otis Art Institute/Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles, and worked alongside the painters Anton Sabas and Gayla Tarmu, Coyle considers himself a largely self-taught artist.  His paintings have been exhibited extensively throughout the United States and can be found in numerous private collections.  Where the Land Ends is Stephen Coyle’s fourth solo exhibition at Paul Thiebaud Gallery.