Wanda Steppe

Growing up in South Carolina, Wanda Steppe always hoped to be a writer until she took an oil painting class on a lark and everything changed.  She subsequently studied at North Harris County College in Houston, TX  and then returned to South Carolina and attended USC-Lancaster, Winthrop College and the Greenville County Museum School of Art.  Frustrated by the emphasis on abstract expressionism, she ultimately decided to teach herself traditional painting techniques with the hope of developing her own personal style over time.  Her current work, which she refers to as metaphorical realism, addresses the big issue in life: fragility, fear, struggle, the search for meaning, profound beauty and how, once in a blue moon, something magical happens.  Steppe's work has been shown throughout the US and is included in private and corporate collections worldwide including the SC State Museum and the SC State Art Collection.  She has been invited to show in university galleries as well as corporate spaces and has been selected for awards in juried competitions including Triennial 2001 at the SC State Museum.