Born 1962 in New Jersey, Steven Krueger experimented with photography for years and pursued that creative outlet throughout his travels for 20 years.  Beginning in 1997, while living and working in Vienna, Austria, he visited and began studying the art works of some of Europe’s most famed museums, and in 1998 he started to paint for the first time.  He became addicted to painting and through that addiction, came the all-empowering drive to try most every material and technique he found interesting.

Initially self-taught, he studied art and painting in particular with the ICS School of Art in Pennsylvania and the Art League of Alexandria, Virginia.  He had a couple of exhibitions in Vienna, Austria, and found some immediate local success in 1999.  He continued exhibiting after moving to Guatemala in 2002 and was represented by two of the most prominent galleries there.  After Guatemala he moved to Helsinki, Finland, where he lived and exhibited for another three years and then on to New Delhi, India for two years.  Presently living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he continues the creative process with his work.  His paintings hang in private collections throughout the world, from Europe, Asia, and Africa, to Latin America and the United States.  Originally influenced by cubism and abstract expressionism, capturing his emotions on canvas or paper is the excitement behind his painting output.  When asked if he can visualize beforehand how a painting will turn out, he responds, “Never.  Whenever I create, the outcome is as much of a surprise to me as to anyone who may see one of my works in progress.”

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I think constant change and worldwide cultural exposure influence what I do.  Although I do consider my work very American, I like to add International because I literally spend most of my time living abroad.  When I began as an artist in 1998, I lived in Vienna, Austria.  In 2001 I moved to Washington DC for a year and in September of 2002, I moved to Guatemala City, Guatemala for two years.  I believe that is where my painting style developed the most.  Guatemala had such a colorful, vibrant culture yet violence and fear were a regular occurrence.

In 2004 I moved to Helsinki, Finland for three years and remained quite active with a couple of Helsinki galleries that also brought the exhibition to other parts of Finland through 2006 and 2007.  From Guatemala to Finland was quite a contrast.  Finland was a peaceful, tranquil country where Guatemala was not.

After three years in Finland, I packed up once again and moved to New Delhi, India for two years.  I think the hardest part of my transition to India was connecting with a new culture and coming to understand the art community there and to have them understand me.  Except for with a small circle, I don't think that happened.  I'm presently living in Buenos Aires, Argentina and very happy to be back in Latin America.  The culture, the color, the food, the wine, has me excited to see where my art will go over the next three years.

What would I like my art to accomplish?  I’m not an activist and my art doesn’t contain political gestures.  If my art attracts emotional response, then I am doing my job as the artist I want to be.  My creations are made with emotion, which changes from painting to painting (happiness, anger, peace, frustration, fear, etc.), so if people react, then I am content.

I believe my art stands out due to its spontaneous nature.  I rarely calculate the outcome of a piece.  I use paint and other materials with a seemingly reckless abandon.  Like I mentioned, emotion takes over once I start to paint.