Meet Anika Steppe | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anika Steppe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anika, can you tell us about a book that has had a meaningful impact on you?
I just recently finished reading Alison Bechdel’s new book “The Secret to Superhuman Strength.” I have been feeling a bit distant from my art practice this year and have found myself learning how to play tennis, so I was excited to hear about her new book which follows her lifelong relationship with exercise. While Bechdel states on page two that “I’m not ‘good at sports’ I’m not a ‘jock.’ That’s a whole different ball game, and not my subject here” I eagerly started the book ready to relate to it with my newly forming tennis thoughts on exertion, control, and being a beginner. I hadn’t made anything in quite some time but I made a little painting of a still life of one of my dog’s toys and a pair of my socks the next week.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In February 2020 I had a solo exhibition titled “View from” at the Courtyard Gallery within a hotel and conference center in Austin, TX. I turned to the gallery name, and the specific (and peculiar) architecture and design choices of the space, as starting points for the work. This was an exciting project for me in many ways—it was the first time I had made work for a public space and it was also the first time I had made site specific work. I studied Cinema and Photography at Ithaca College and then went on to get my MFA in Studio Art at the University of Texas at Austin. While the vocabulary and histories of photography are often at the base of my work, I have learned a lot from working alongside and, at times, directly with artists who work in various mediums. While at UT Austin I met artist Marta Lee and we formed the queer collective Frances Brady whose work follows the trajectory of Sufjan Stevens’ discography. We are currently working on an upcoming show that will pull inspiration from Stevens’ album “The Age of Adz” which was a departure from his state-focused work and deals with more personal and intimate narratives.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
During the pandemic I’ve found myself back in my hometown Ann Arbor, MI after living elsewhere for the past ten years. After making it through a Michigan winter I would start with a visit to Pickerel Lake for a swim and then continue on for a road trip throughout Northern Michigan to swim in as many small inland lakes as well as Lake Michigan. Before leaving Ann Arbor I’d head to Mani for negronis, pick up some sushi from Sadako, and load up on cheese for the road from York.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a nod to my friends Marta Lee and Alicia Link for their sustained encouragement and for keeping up our weekly virtual cards night this past year.

Website: https://www.anikasteppe.com/