stephen dorsett

Stephen Dorsett makes sculptures of miniature landscapes from consumer waste. Then photographs them. The Kentucky native describes his work as a meditation on consumerism and the environment.

Artist: Dorsett was born and grew up in Louisville, KY. He graduated in 1999 with a BA in studio art, with a focus on drawing, painting and sculpture, from Murray State University in Murray, KY.

In 2004, he received a master’s degree in art education from Eastern Kentucky University and earned a master’s degree in school counseling in 2019 from the University of the Cumberlands.

After teaching art in high school for 14 years, Dorsett now works as a high school counselor in Lexington.

Studio: Dorsett’s home basement in Lexington serves as his workshop.

In the beginning: During the summer after his freshman year of college, Dorsett had his first exhibit in Louisville. The exhibit, titled “Devolution,” featured 16 paintings accompanied by a one-man performance.

In this performance, Dorsett was encased within a tall silver octagonal cylinder, representing a machine. While he engaged in a few more performance art exhibits, Dorsett later moved away from performance art after graduating to focus on painting.

Post-college, Dorsett ventured to Japan, where he spent three years teaching English. While he was there, Dorsett leaned into painting.

In 2018, he shifted focusing exclusively on abstract photography and dioramas.

Over time, these abstract compositions began to resemble landscapes as he subtly manipulated materials to mimic natural elements like mountains, oceans and caves.

Art & materials: Sculptures of miniature landscapes from consumer waste. Also photographs of the landscapes. Metal and acrylic prints of the landscapes range from $200 to $800.

Common materials include recycled aluminum foil, packaging Styrofoam, wine corks, plastic bottles, colored paper and pillow stuffing (for clouds).

Dorsett obtains materials from garbage bins, dumpsters, roadsides and parking lots. He also gets a lot of materials from friends and stores them in bins on shelves in his studio.

“By transforming consumer waste into representations of natural environments,” said Dorsett. “I engage in a form of spiritual recycling, instilling meaning in the discarded.”

Process:

Begins with gathering consumer waste products.
Uses various methods, including smashing, boiling, burning, and blending recycled materials into a pulp.
Once materials are prepped, he sculpts them into miniature landscapes, which are illuminated with simple desk lamps.

Inspirations: Notable landscape artists, particularly Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.

Recent project: A group of tall rock formations constructed from wine corks, bathed in the morning’s yellow sunlight peeking from behind the background rocks.

“This piece symbolizes the emergence of joy from within oneself,” said Dorsett.

What’s new: “LP Canvas: Vinyl Art in Music City” exhibit at Chauvet Arts in Nashville. Through. Sept. 23. The exhibit celebrates the allure of vinyl records.

Where to buy: