Stephen Altena: Everything Was So Pretty

Stephen Altena, The Frolic Trellis (detail) installed in Wonder: the real, the surreal, and the fantastic at Art Gallery of Hamilton, 2023. Photograph courtesy of the Artist.

Stephen Altena: Everything Was So Pretty

Curated by Karly Boileau

March 29 to June 14, 2025
Cambridge Art Galleries, Preston

“Everything Was So Pretty is about looking at the world and all of its beautiful things through the eyes of a child. The work in this exhibition gives voice to that little skinny gay boy (who I think still lives inside me) who was too effeminate, too weak, and too other. This is a place for him and anyone else who wants to share in the delight, prettiness, and whimsy.”
– Stephen Altena, artist

In his solo exhibition, Everything Was So Pretty, Stephen Altena creates a fantastical scene of plants and flowers in full bloom, coexisting despite their diverse needs. It is a wondrous landscape that piques curiosity, a space where imagination, escapism, and acceptance are encouraged. Hidden among the plants and flowers, child-like figures and familiar objects peek through. These decorative objects are markers of Altena’s childhood memories of the Victorian farmhouse he grew up in and, later on, his visits to some of the world’s renowned museums and galleries. However, in this place of contemplation, of the beautiful, and of familiar things, Altena subtly draws our attention to the often-romanticized depiction of rural life and childhood. His use of repetition, a key element in his maximalist approach to art making, serves as a powerful tool to remind us to consider the reality versus the fiction of the beautiful things we encounter.
– Karly Boileau, curator

Stephen Altena, The Frolic Trellis installed in Wonder: the real, the surreal, and the fantastic at Art Gallery of Hamilton, 2023. Photograph by K. Boileau.

Related Programming

Opening Reception: Everything Was So Pretty
Saturday, April 5, 2025, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Cambridge Art Galleries, Preston
No registration required

Celebrate the opening of Stephen Altena’s solo exhibition, Everything Was So Pretty, at the Preston Gallery. Light snacks and refreshments will be served. All are welcome to attend.

Painting Patterns with Stephen Altena
Saturday, May 3, 2025, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Cambridge Art Galleries, Queen’s Square
Registered

In this workshop, you’ll experiment with the creation of basic patterns using paint and a variety of materials.

Queer Craft Circle: Kinetic Mobile Sculptures with Stephen Altena
Thursday, May 8, 2025, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Cambridge Art Galleries, Queen’s Square
Registered

Join us for this fun, casual program. Together we will explore a new craft with artist Stephen Altena. Registration is open to 2SLGBTQIA+-identifying people in Waterloo Region. Offered in partnership with SPECTRUM, Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space.

About the Artist

Stephen Altena was born in Hamilton, Ontario. He is a graduate of Redeemer College University. He is also a graduate of the Independent Study Program at Dundas Valley School Of Art, under the instruction of John Wilkinson and Susan Detwiler. He has shown his work at Transit Gallery, Toronto Outdoor Exhibit, Hamilton Public Library, Hoop Gallery, and has sold works through the Art Gallery Of Hamilton’s Art Sale And Rental Gallery. Along with Andrew McPhail, he is the cofounder of The Hundred Dollar Gallery, which hosted the first ever Hamilton Biennale.

Cambridge Art Galleries
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Cambridge Art Galleries, Preston
435 King Street East
Cambridge, ON N3H 3N1

Hours of Operation
Monday to Thursday 10:00 am to 8:30 pm
Friday 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Saturday 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Admission is free. All are welcome.

Cambridge Art Galleries is situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Neutral peoples. We recognize that this land is part of the Haldimand Tract, extending 10km on either side of the Grand River.

Cambridge Art Galleries presents contemporary art from two galleries in the City of Cambridge: Queen’s Square and Preston. We serve our regional and broader communities through the delivery of contemporary art programs that foster critical cultural dialogue. Our artistic activities engage, embrace, and empower people of all ages and abilities from diverse backgrounds.

Accessibility:
Cambridge Art Galleries, Cambridge Public Library is fully accessible. For more information: ideaexchange.org/about/accessibility

Our Supporters:
Cambridge Art Galleries gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the City of Cambridge, Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Government of Ontario.

Media Contact:
Karly Boileau
Assistant Curator
Cambridge Art Galleries
kboileau@ideaexchange.org
519.621.0460 x160