Stephanie Kossman

In the words of printmaker Stephanie Kossman, “Art has universal impact and is integral in our daily living.”

“It reflects our culture while inviting critique of it. Art provides an alternative way to tell our stories and to engage in the spirit of genuine curiosity. It tests our perceptions and skills, and invites new understandings and viewpoints. Art encourages the development of healthy self-expression. It can reduce [internal] conflicts and distress while also calling attention to the challenges we face as a greater community.

For me, abstraction is a way to hold liberated space. My artworks are a memorial and testament to the resilience, capacity, and potential of my subjects. My focus is creating abstract portraiture of people that have experienced complex relational trauma, sexual violence, and other physical, psychological, and emotional challenges that have lasting impacts in their lives.

I chose to participate in Fair Housing Month because housing insecurity is a devastating challenge for many that have experienced domestic violence. Lack of access to safe and affordable housing, that is near transportation, services, and employment, poses a real barrier to those seeking to escape abuse. Adults and children alike deserve a Home - a consistent and nurturing place where they can reclaim their lives.

In portraiture, I invite my subjects and viewers to explore their best qualities, strengths, visions of love, and dreams of the future. Subjects share not only pain but empowering and fulfilling experiences and intimate glimpses into important relationships and experiences. In landscape and other abstraction, I strive to capture the emotions and physical sensations of a moment in time and space.

I offer these monotypes for Fair Housing Month as the framework for a story. I hope you’ll fill in the narrative as you consider your experience and that of your loved ones. Together, we create a community to support each other’s transformation.”