Steve R. Coffey has always thought of the prairies as a place loaded with visual intricacies. Throughout his travels, he has found that there is simply no light like that of the Canadian prairies. Further describing his relationship with the light of the Canadian prairies, Steve states:
“I feel that a human being is both dwarfed and defined within this light. I use human elements as both a romantic and metaphorical signal. Not for a sense of aloneness, but rather as an individual existing under the vast sky. My paintings are mental snapshots. I’ll see something that strikes me, file it away in my head and draw on it as I return to my studio. These files I call ‘Memory Polaroids.'” - Steve R. Coffey
Steve R. Coffey has been an essential part of the Canadian art and music scene for many years. He has curated travelling art shows, created large-scale public sculptures, taught college, and conducted many workshops and art residencies.