Page 62 - Designing Ways 255

ALL ABOUT
ART

Stephen

Graham Art

Crystal Pin

tephen Graham constructs dazzling
three-dimensional artworks from
Smetal pins, each individually
crowned with exclusive crystals and,
he says, the essential ingredient of
negative space. In this intricate and
precise process, he transforms clusters of
exquisite jewelled pins into iconic images
of objects, logos and symbols from the
pop art repertoire.
Each composition is brought to life with
carefully chosen exclusive crystals which
provide his colour palette and confer an
extraordinary and beautiful radiance.
Regardless of shared subject matter, they
ensure that no two pieces in Stephen’s
collection will ever look the same, as each
has its own identity, character and energy.
The visual impact of Stephen’s intricate
work is further enhanced by his intention
to convey a range of subtle messages,
should the viewer choose to read them.
Working within popular cultural tropes
allows him to comment on issues such
as consumerism, nostalgia and social
structures, and this adds a layer of intrigue
and substance to the finished piece.
After graduating from Central Saint
Martins in London in 2003, Stephen
began to develop his unique vision as
an Artist and a Designer in the Art and

62 Issue 255 • dw