Clairissa Stephen’s studio work and research explores a sense of place and relationship to the landscape and is influenced by interests in navigation, mapping, weather patterns, climate change, and extreme natural environments. She investigates relationships between macro and micro elements of the natural world, working primarily in painting, drawing and sculpture. In her most recent work, she explores the value of water as a precious resource. Her work is timely given the frequent and seemingly increasing droughts in the West. These artworks involve the visualization of hydrology, climate change and its relationship to the high desert.
Stephens holds a BA in Painting and Drawing from Portland State University (2008) and a MFA in Interdisciplinary Studio Art from the University of Nevada, Reno (2014). She has attended artist residencies at SÍM, PLAYA and Leland Iron Works. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally including: SÍM Gallery (Reykjavík, Iceland), WAIS Divide Research Station (Antartica), Sierra Arts (Reno, NV), Haldan Art Gallery (South Lake Tahoe, CA), Umqua Valley Arts Association (Roseburg, OR), Pacific Northwest College of Art (Portland, OR) and MoNA (LaConner, WA) to name a few. Stephens currently lives and works in Oregon City, OR.