Radius Gallery is deeply honored to present Sustenance, a solo exhibition of more than 30 paintings and drawings by the inimitable Stephanie J. Frostad. With such clarity and intent, Frostad manifests her interests — agriculture and ecology, labor and community, literature and world events — in narrative moments that are visually striking, symbolically charged, and culturally relevant.

 

WARNING: Adding an artwork to your shopping cart does not, sadly, reserve it. Another visitor may have the same item in their cart and “scoop” it from you if they input their credit card first. If you really love a piece, we suggest you hurry to the check out to avoid disappointment. You can continue shopping after that purchase.

 

These works will be available for pick up or shipping the week after May 11th.

---

 

ARTIST STATEMENT

 

Inspiration comes from many sources, and sometimes unlikely ones. When the Russian assault on Ukraine began over two years ago, I knew little about Ukraine, the region, its past and present. I was astonished to discover just how much of the world Ukraine feeds. People as far away as Africa are reliant on Ukraine's vast harvests. Therein lies the perennial lesson of war, that it takes, rather than sustains, life. This sad fact, however obvious, sparked the current theme of my work: sustenance. Along with acknowledging neglected or damaged fields of plenty, I've also entertained questions such as "who gets to eat?" and "who gets eaten?".

 

Sustenance too comes from many sources. Yes, we need the food and drink required for survival. In order to truly thrive, we need more than that. We need relationships. We need the arts. We need story. These experiences of connection and belonging, expression and reception nourish our minds and hearts. Recent attacks on the freedom to read threaten the free exercise of imagination and the cultivation of empathy.

 

In response to this trend, The Readers are a colorful celebration of the diverse tales we take up and take in. A few of the narrative paintings reference novels that have stirred and heartened me. Though not illustrations of those books, I've sought to evoke some remarkable characters and the landscapes they appeared in.

 

As Mary Oliver observed, the world we inhabit also inhabits us. We live amidst other life forms through the vagaries and vibrancy of each season. I cherish this endless source of inspiration too.

 

I am grateful to the many friends and neighbors who have modeled for me and helped to bring my visions to light. I offer thanks to the fine people here at Radius Gallery, who contribute so much to the vitality of the arts in our community.

 

— Stephanie J. Frostad

 

 

---

 

BIO

 

Stephanie J. Frostad studied at Studio Arts Center International in Florence, Italy, and at the Maryland lnstitute's College of Art. Her training continued at the University of Montana, where she earned an MFA. She has exhibited work throughout the US and abroad in Canada, China, Italy and New Zealand. Her solo exhibition, News of the World: Stephanie J. Frostad, opened at the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art in Great Falls in 2018, and a retrospective of her work, Stephanie J. Frostad: The Evocative Moment, exhibited in 2019 at the Montana Museum of Art and Culture in Missoula. Frostad received an Artist's Innovation Award from the Montana Arts Council in 2017. Born and raised in Walla Walla, Washington, Frostad now lives and works in Missoula.