“From riding the neighbor’s horses as a child, to showing jumpers in South America, to working with hunter jumper and dressage barns in Colorado, my world has often revolved around horses. The years spent soaking in their presence make artistic expression through the equine form my native language.” Stephanie Revennaugh
BY RENEE SPURGE PHOTOS AUDREY HALL PHOTOGRAPHY
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Elegant Repose, bronze, 9” x 7.5” x 2.5”
orn of an ongoing love affair with horses and their complex and sensitive nature, Stephanie Revennaugh’s collection of multi-media sculptures and paintings are as quietly mysterious and beautiful as she is herself. As an avid equestrian and lover of anything horse related, I was immediately drawn to the exquisite detail and mysticism of her artwork. I had the pleasure of meeting Stephanie at the Flintridge Riding Club in Los Angeles, California, earlier this year, where her enchanting bronzed sculptures were displayed throughout the horse-show grounds. Each sculpture demanded my attention as I noticed they captured the same essence of these beloved creatures we have spent most of our lives attending to. While primarily working out of her studio in Livingston, Montana, and showing her collection in several galleries throughout the
United States, Stephanie has popped up at various California horse shows, including the Sacramento International Horse Show at the Rancho Murieta Equestrian Center. As horse shows become more and more sophisticated here in the U.S., it follows suit that the vendors attending these events will include accomplished artisans. Stephanie admits that “presenting work at horse shows to an audience who thoroughly understands the subject is a vulnerable place.” However, the overwhelming positive reaction she has received from the equestrian community is validation that her pieces evoke the same emotional connection we have to our horses. She adds, “Bringing my work to an equestrian audience feels like coming home to me.” I love that Stephanie brings some of her works-in-progress to the shows, permitting a unique behind-the-scenes view of her creative process. Her sculptures, which begin with a constructed metal armature, are modeled with an oil-based clay that does not harden or dry out—allowing the opportunity for horse and WINTER 2 0 1 4 | 2 0 1 5 | EQ U ES TRIA N Q UA RTERLY | 83