Stephen was born in Flagstaff, Arizona, into a family with roots deep in the Southwest. He was exposed to ranch life as a child and began working as a ranch cowboy as a young man. Stephen’s introduction to metalworking began with the need to shoe his own horses. Working in front of an anvil developed into a career in ornamental ironwork. In turn, a desire for greater artistic expression led Stephen to explore sculpting. His sculpture depicts contemporary cowboy life.
Stephen’s awards and honors include: - 2012
- Sharlot Hall Museum (Prescott, AZ)
- Evening at Sharlot’s Place, raffle of “Peavine”, work created for the Museum
- 2009
- Sharlot Hall Museum
- Featured artist, Evening at Sharlot’s Place
- 2008
- Calgary Stampede Western Art Sales Salon
- Best New Artist: 3-Dimensional
- Artists' Choice: 3-Dimensional
- Challenge New Mexico (Santa Fe)
- Second Place - Fine Art
- Phippen Museum Art Show & Sale (Prescott,AZ)
- Southwest Art Magazine Award
- 2007
- Challenge New Mexico
- Second Place - Fine Art
- National Celebration of Western Art (The Cow Palace)
- Third Place - Sculpture
- 2006
- Calgary Stampede Western Art Sales Salon
- Best Presentation
- Challenge New Mexico
- Best of Show
- 2005
- Calgary Stampede Western Art Sales Salon
- Best Presentation
- 2004
- Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Art Show & Sale (Tucson)
- Olaf Wieghorst Award for Best of Show
Today, Stephen divides his time between sculpting, architectural blacksmithing, engraving and tending to his Arizona ranch. He still shoes his own horses. Although largely self-taught, Stephen is grateful for the opportunities he has had to study with some of today’s great sculptors including Mehl Lawson, Victor Issa, John Coleman and Veryl Goodnight. The community of artists he has come to know have pushed him to excel and continue to be a source of inspiration.
Stephen’s ironwork was featured in the following publications:
Architectural Ironwork, Dona Z. Meilach (2007)
“Themed Railings Can Equal Higher Earnings”,
Dona Z. Meilach, (2006) http://www.thefabricator.com/article/consumables/theme-railings-can-equal-higher-earnings