Steve Dudrow

 

My art is a conversation between the wild spaces I explore and the creative instincts I’ve carried with me for decades. Whether through a lens capturing the hush of a desert night or with brushstrokes that echo the layered stories of time, I seek to make visible the beauty and complexity that often go unnoticed. The Mojave Desert is my studio, my subject, and my teacher. Its shifting shadows, resilient life forms, and expansive skies challenge me to look deeper and respond honestly.

​I often begin with large thematic ideas, ecology, memory, myth, and then distill them through sketching, refining, and layering. I work in both traditional and digital media, and have recently returned to oil painting and night sky photography as ways to reconnect with authenticity and wonder.

​Much of my work is informed by my service as an Artist in Residence in national parks, where I’ve also volunteered as an interpretive guide and archaeological steward. I believe art can guide stewardship, spark conversation, and hold space for healing. Through public art, children’s books, and my co-hosted podcast The Art Box, I collaborate to amplify creative voices and celebrate the intersections of science, culture, and expression.

​At its heart, my practice is about listening, to the land, to history, and to the stories others carry, and translating that into something that resonates, both visually and emotionally.