Walking through the Gallery after installing a new show is one of Steven Benezue’s greatest pleasures.  In his roles as gallery director and art instructor, Steven coordinates the overall operation of the North Lake Gallery, which features professional and student contemporary art exhibitions, lectures and performances, as well as teaching sculpture and 3D design. 

Steven believes that students can learn as much from each other in a studio setting as they can from an instructor.  “I work with all kinds of students, from all over the globe and all ages,” says Steven.  “I get students with greatly varying skill level and interest in art.  My job is to make one creative group out of them.”  Holding a critique in class and having the opportunity to grade creative artwork is one of Steven’s greatest rewards. When a student continues on with art studies and graduates with a B.F.A. or M.F.A., Steven says he feels a tremendous sense of pride.

In his own artwork, “Dysfunctional Ware”, Steven uses traditional sculptural methods and materials to create exaggerated and wildly colored ceramic teapots.  His work is reminiscent, in an abstract and absurd way, of the work of some of his heroes: Howard Kottler, George Or, and Dr. Seuss.  “My teapots may tell you that they are all my self-portraits,” jokes Steven, “but don’t listen to them!”

Steven started out as a student at North Lake over 20 years ago, and came back to teach in 2002. “I loved it then and I love it now,” says Steven.  “It was a great place to be a student and it is a great place to work.”