Fall Residency Exhibition – Aaron Steffer, Unique Fair-Smith, and Hannah L. Bell
C.O.M.P. Studios
339 East Ave., #204
Dec 1, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The artists of C.O.M.P. Studios are back with open hours this First Friday! Hannah Bell, Aaron Steffer, and Unique Fair-Smith (pictured) have been utilizing this free, temporary studio space to create a series of new work which will be on view alongside a selection of older work. Head upstairs to the second floor studio space to meet the artists, enjoy refreshments, and see what they’ve been working on!
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Originally from Canada, Hannah L. Bell spent her childhood living in the South Pacific and now calls Webster, NY home. She received a BFA in Studio Art with focuses in painting and ceramics. Her work is inspired by nature in its many forms: from the intricacy of cell structures; to the lush beauty of flowers, foliage, and growing things; from the joy brought by beloved pets; to the human form and faces and the stories they tell. Whether it bold statements on social justice, or quiet landscapes captured in watercolor; abstract compositions in oil, or portraits in mixed media, Bell says, “I want my art to cause the viewer to look for, see, and value the beauty and importance of our world around us and to think deeply about their own and other’s experiences and humanity.”
Unique Fair-Smith grew up in Rochester, NY and received a BFA in Illustration and an MFA in Studio Arts from RIT. Fair’s body of work engages with the ideas of oppression, liberation, and the friction between the two. It is intended to be a revolutionary endeavor that contributes to the vast history of arts based activism, and used as a means to empower the marginalized. His work centers the human figure and portraiture, where he finds inspiration to explore the human condition, and how it is affected by struggle, tragedy, and joy. From the artist, “My art practice prioritizes the depiction of people from underrepresented communities in our society. As a Black Queer man, I hope my work empowers others, and gives disenfranchised communities voices on their own terms, not the terms projected onto them.”
Aaron Steffer’s art makes viewers question themselves and look deeper within the composition for meaning and explanation. The majority of his work is a dive into his subconscious, featuring lost friendships, relationships and loved ones. From the artist, “My paintings blur the lines of traditional portraiture and abstract impressionism together, forming fun and colorful pieces of art.” Steffer will be using the space to create large scale pieces, part of a growing series.
ABOUT C.O.M.P. STUDIOS
C.O.M.P. Studios provides artists with free, temporary space to advance their practice and engage the public. This initiative expands RoCo’s work to support artists and build the ecosystem for contemporary art in Downtown Rochester. Presented by Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo) in partnership with Chashama and supported by The New York State Council for the Arts, this initiative builds upon grassroots efforts like First Friday, Rochester’s Citywide Gallery Night, and 2019’s Current Seen, to foster new art spaces. C.O.M.P. Studios is proudly led by small, community-based arts organizations and maintains an artist-centered focus. In addition to providing work space, this initiative will boost an artist’s access to audiences and expose the public to an artist’s latest project. C.O.M.P. Studios is Creative Opportunities Made Public.