Stallman Studio, Canvas On Edge

Stallman Studio is an artist duo based in the Pacific Northwest consisting of artists Jason Hallman and Stephen Stum.

Their artwork breaks the boundary between painting and sculpture, transforming canvas into a sculptural medium. Each piece is meticulously made by painting canvas, cutting the canvas material, and rearranging these layers of canvas into new forms. What results is a stunning body of work that challenges how we think about painting and sculpture, and art as a whole.

Canvas on Edge was born out of the magnetic interplay of two. In numerology, two is a balancing force, representing grace and power, cooperative feminine energy that brings peace and harmony to a relationship or situation. 

This yin-yang alchemy is at the center of STALLMAN's collaborative relationship; from two minds, two hearts and two visions, a unique art form emerges. From the combination of two basic materials, used in an innovative way, a new body of work comes to life. They begin by painting and cutting canvas into colourful strips, then arranging them into a layered colour palette inspired by patterns and shapes found in nature. The movement of energy attracts our eye: light sparkling on the surface of the water, a snow-capped mountain transitioning from red to blue as the sun sets, heat waves shimmering above the desert floor. Dynamic geometric patterns, mandalas and cellular structures, also catch our attention. They envision the piece in their mind's eye, then allow the canvas strips to guide them as they sculpt, staying open to linear detours and surprising pops of colour. Each piece becomes a co-creation between the artists and the materials. The third element that brings the piece fully to life is by the viewer. The artists enjoy creating the moment of "awe" for their viewers, it brings them much joy.