Stephen Hannock

Known for his atmospheric landscapes—flooded rivers, incendiary nocturnes, and expansive vistas—Stephen Hannock’s works demonstrate his keen appreciation for the quality of light that recalls the Hudson River School and the Luminist painters. While his subject matter is initially reminiscent of Europeans Caspar David Friedrich and JMW Turner, and Americans Thomas Cole and Frederic Edwin Church, Hannock moves beyond the influence of traditional landscape artists to create works that have been described as self-portraiture. Characterizing his work as a reinvention of familiar vistas, Hannock focuses on setting the stage for stories that he writes onto the surface of the piece. His unique process of layering paint and then polishing the surface achieves an ethereal luminosity. His remarkable murals, some dating back to the 1970s, further explore his interest in setting the stage for storytelling. This monograph, the first on this celebrated artist in many years, also details his pioneering work with phosphorescent pigments illuminated under black light.