Howard distils his compositions, rather than describes them, transforming natural elements into painterly impressions, refining them through memory and sensation while holding a sense of stillness in tension with movement, as if he is suspending time at the edge of change. This balance draws the viewer into a contemplative space that feels both expansive and intimate. His approach to abstraction retains a deep connection to the natural world, with each work carrying the presence of landscape while reaching toward something less tangible: the act of perception itself. Howard invites a lingering observation through light, texture, and form that responds to the fleeting, often invisible forces that shape our experience of place. Colour plays a vital role in this sensibility. Carefully modulated palettes shift from vibrant to subdued, guiding the viewer’s attention across the surface and amplifying the emotional tone of each work. These surfaces seem to hold light, rather than reflect it, giving the impression that the painting exudes its light from within. Howard’s work reveals a quiet duality: movement and stillness, presence and memory; offering space for evocative reflection. Each painting becomes a moment of encounter, an invitation to pause within a grounded and transitory world.
Howard has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions across Aotearoa New Zealand since 1978, including in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland. His work is held in a private and corporate collections within New Zealand and internationally.
Stephen Howard has been represented by Parnell Gallery since 2009.
