Nicholas C. Steinmetz (1940-2021)

Steinmetz received a Tree of Life Individual Artist Grant in 2002 to create a digital archive of his work. 

Thoughts on Painting

I am committed to the deep, deep background of mind from which we understand pattern. My recognition patterns have been modified by the pressures of electronic media, e.g. radio, sonar, scanline computer enhanced photos, slow and high speed motion pictures and extravagant enlargements; all these influence and extend natural perception, and in my art they become language. For instance, while listening to music, I actually see forms or webs of shapes, some of which have closure, some of which are raw and open but suggest closure. While reading Joseph Conrad, I see (literally see) an abstract pattern rising out of description.

Biography
Education
1966
California State University, Sacramento, B. A.
1969
California State University, Sacramento, M. A.
Solo Exhibitions
1969
Kaleidoscope Gallery, Sacramento, CA, Thesis Exhibition
1974
Le Sahuc Gallery, Sacramento, CA, Painting, Drawing and Photography
1975
Le Sahuc Gallery, Sacramento, CA, Painting
1976
Le Sahuc Gallery, Sacramento, CA, Painting (review)
1977
Le Sahuc Gallery, Sacramento, CA, Painting
1984
Chan Elliot Gallery, Sacramento, CA, Painting
1985
Bank of America World Headquarters Building, Plaza Gallery, S.F., Painting
1987
Exploratorium, San Francisco, Conference Room Gallery, Works on Paper
Two-Person Exhibitions
1971
Art Company, Sacramento, CA, (Steinmetz and Jim Stewart) Sculpture and Photography
1973
Le Sahuc Gallery, Sacramento, CA, (Steinmetz and Jim Stewart) Photo projected environment, Jack Ogden (actor)
1976
Le Sahuc Gallery, Sacramento, CA, (Steinmetz and Ingrid Lunquist) Drawing and Painting
Group Exhibitions
1974
Anopholes Invitational, Le Sahuc Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1975
Anopholes Invitational, Le Sahuc Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1977
Anopholes Invitational, Le Sahuc Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1981
Fifty Sacramento Artists, Open Ring Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1982
Anopholes Invitational, Open Ring Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1983
Cowtown Invitational, Chan Elliot Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1985
Cowtown Invitational, Djurovich Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1986
Art Bridge, City Gallery, Kobe, Japan, Group Show, West Coast and Kobe
1988
40th Anniversary Exhibition, California State University, Sacramento, CA
1991
Contemporary Painting, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
1993
Site Bytes, 90’s Abstract Painting, Archival Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1995
One of a Kind, Painting, Mills College, Oakland, CA
2001
Studio Visit, Drawing, Jay Jay Gallery, Sacramento, CA
Commissions and Awards

1978
Awarded a $6000 commission by the City of Sacramento to create a mural
1964
Second Prize, Graphics, California State Fair
1967
First Prize, Mixed Media, NCA Open Competition, Crocker Art Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1968
Kingsley Art Competition, Crocker Art Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1970
First Prize, Sculpture, NCA Open Competition, Crocker Art Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1971
Kingsley Art Competition, Crocker Art Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1972
Kingsley Art Competition, Crocker Art Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1974
Best of Show, Drawing, Camellia Exhibition, Sacramento, CA
1974
Best of Show, Drawing, St. John’s Religious Art Show
1974
First Prize, Oil Painting, Cal Expo
1977
Third Prize, Oil Painting, Cal Expo
Nominations
1993
By John Caldwell for SECA Award in Painting (Semi-Finalist)
1993
By Phil Linhares, Fleishhacker Foundation Fellowship, (Finalist)