From a distance, the unique art by Evan Stoler comes together to form intricate textures and patterns. But look closer. The materials the Atlanta artist uses to create his work might surprise you.
Artist: Stoler grew up in Omaha, NE, and first found an interest in art in a high school ceramics class.
At Denison University in Ohio, he graduated in 2016 with a BA in biology and studio art with an emphasis on ceramics and sculpture.
He interned for a summer at the Columbus Museum of Art during college in the education department and participated in a ceramics residency in France in 2017 and a fine arts residency in Portugal in 2022.
Studio: Stoler’s studio is in his storage closet adjacent to his apartment in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward.
Art & materials: Mainly wall art but also some installation art made from various office supplies, including staples, erasers duct tape and pencils laid out in various patterns and arrangements ($250 for a 6 inch by 6 inch piece to $3,750 for 36 inches by 36 inches).
Themes: Nostalgia is a core theme because many office supplies were used for school before the digital age.
“I want to celebrate the uniqueness of these various supplies in both an aesthetically beautiful and historical sense as art is a form of preservation,” said Stoler.
Favorite or must-have tools: A good pair of scissors and industrial strength glue. The heat gun is a favorite because of the unpredictability that comes with melting certain supplies to the point of being unrecognizable.
Inspirations: Artists, including:
- Tara Donovan for the way she uses an army of common materials and creates wall art, sculptures and massive installations.
- Andy Goldsworthy, who uses natural materials and portrays the aging and withering process through documentation which is just as compelling as the initial creation – giving “life” to his work.
- Yayoi Kusama, known for her broad use of polka dots and for her infinity installations with mirrors.
- Ron Nagle for his material exploration and organic forms.
Fun or unusual commissions: A friend asked for a 12 inch by 12-inch art piece out of coffee grounds.
Recent honor:
- Nominated for “Outstanding Emerging Visual Artist” by the Omaha Arts and Entertainment Awards. 2022.
- A group show he was part of that year with four other artists was nominated and won “Outstanding Group Show: I’ve Been Here Before.”
Recent project: Anderson O’Brien Fine Art gallery in Omaha featured Stoler’s work with two window displays in spring of 2025 for his exhibition titled “Summation.”
What’s next: Invited to participate in a 2025 Halloween show at Lux Center for the Arts in Lincoln, NE, titled “Horror Vacui,” Latin for “fear of empty spaces.” He is creating with orange and black pencils.
Where to buy:
- Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, Omaha.
Connect:
- Instagram: @evanstolerart
- Website: evanstoler.com
