South Lowell 18 (work of art)
Artwork Info
Key Ideas
- Damian Stamer is a North Carolina artist. He is known for his paintings of rural landscapes and abandoned places.
- Stamer’s paintings are based on photos of real places in North Carolina and his memories of growing up here. He combines realism with abstract textures by layering and scratching paint to make his artwork look like old photographs.
- Stamer explores themes of memory, time, history, and change in his work. His paintings show how landscapes and communities transform with the passage of time.
Learn More
North Carolina artist Damian Stamer grew up in Durham County. His large-scale paintings often depict old barns, empty farmland, and abandoned buildings. Stamer says his childhood experiences in these quiet places became the inspiration for his artwork. Today he takes photos of similar scenery and uses the pictures as guides for his paintings.
North Carolina is the subject of every painting I make … For nearly a decade, I have focused on the places and spaces of home, complete with all their glories, faults, and fictions.
Damian Stamer
South Lowell 18 shows the artist’s interest in memory, history, and change. He made this painting look like an old photograph by using textures that resemble water spots, fading, and damage caused by age and weather. Stamer creates this effect by layering paint and then scraping or scratching parts of the surface. By mixing rough textures with realistic images in his art, he encourages viewers to notice how landscapes and communities change over time.
I do everything I can to deteriorate, distort, and integrate abstraction so there is a sort of corrosion to the picture.
Damian Stamer
Stamer has experimented with using artificial intelligence (AI) as part of his artistic process. He connects traditional painting with modern technology by using AI to help him come up with ideas for his art. Then he uses paint, photos, and memories to create the final piece himself.
Additional Resources
Resources for Teachers
- Read an article about Stamer from WALTER magazine.
- Visit an educational website to explore the artist’s background and the ways he uses AI in his work.
- Read an interview with the artist.
Resources for Students
- Watch a video to hear Stamer talk about his inspirations and artistic process.
- View more paintings by this artist.
- Listen to a podcast to hear the artist explain how modern technology influences his work.
Images
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South Lowell 18