Stephanie Henderson uses simple geometric forms and playful color combinations in her abstract paintings.
The Atlanta-based painter says that her art is about color and how colors speak to each other – and affect you.
Artist: The Georgia native grew up in Thomasville. She graduated with a BA in English literature from the University of Virginia and earned an MA in journalism from the University of Georgia.
Before becoming a professional painter in 2012, Henderson worked in public relations, writing and editing in Atlanta then as a full-time mom. As her three children entered school and their teens, she found more time to paint.
“Except for a couple of painting classes in college and high school,” said Henderson. “My painting has evolved through trial, error and obsession.”
Studio: Henderson paints in her home studio, which opens into a courtyard, filling the room with soft light.
“I keep my studio and my paints organized,” said Henderson. “But let’s not kid ourselves, painting is a messy job.”
On most days, Henderson listens to podcasts about science, medicine and health or to biographies about people she finds interesting.
“Occasionally, when my brain is darting around, I just paint all day in silence to recenter,” added Henderson.
Art & materials: Mostly acrylic paintings on linen, canvas and wood panels ($3,000 to $8,000).
Paintings feature simple geometric forms with hard edges, including glossy round circles, concentric circles (some look like playful bull’s-eye targets) and her new pivot work.
She also paints organic forms in the shape of smooth stones, stacked rocks and deconstructed trees.
Henderson describes most of her bold, color-filled work as hard-edge abstraction.
What is hard-edge abstraction: It is an approach to abstract painting that became widespread in the 1960s and is characterized by areas of flat color with sharp, clear (or “hard”) edges, according to the Tate galleries.
When she first started painting, Henderson was drawn to painting landscapes, which is a fairly accessible entry point for painters. Painting what you see is a good way to start, she said. Eventually, she realized that what most excited her was experimenting with color and how the colors react when placed on the canvas next to each other.
“So I deconstructed until I had stripped the work down to simple shapes,” said Henderson. “I painted squares, stripes and circles, and the circles simply felt the best in my hand.
“Painting a circle freehand requires focus and precision, but at the same time it’s extremely soothing to me.”
Must-have tool: Filbert brushes for clean lines. “I could not paint without them,” said Henderson.
Inspirations:
- Ellsworth Kelly, Frank Stella and Barnett Newman, pioneers in the hard-edge abstraction style.
- Jasper Johns and Wassily Kandinsky for their bull’s-eye images.
Special commissions:
- Two paintings on linen for the stunning Italian-inspired restaurant Casadonna in Miami, a project by renowned designer Ken Fulk. The project, along with Henderson’s paintings, was featured in Architectural Digest in 2024.(See single circle image at right)
- A group of four circle paintings for the great room in a 14,000-square-foot beach getaway in Captiva Island, FL, designed by Virginia-based Janie Molster Designs. The home was featured in House Beautiful in March 2025.
Recent awards/honors:
- Selected for an artist residency at Maison de Beaumont in Provence, France. October 2026.
- Artist residency at Camino al Arte in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico (2024) and Chateau d’Orquevaux in France (2022).
Recent project: Two-artist show at Pryor Fine Art in Atlanta. 2025.
What’s next: Solo show at KMR Arts, Washington Depot, CT. July 2026. (will add link)
Where to see & buy:
- Stephaniehendersonpaintings.com to view art and find a list of galleries that sell her art.
Connect:
- Instagram: @stephaniehendersonpainter
