All work on this site is copyright of Stella Keen 2024.
As a bisexual artist from a poor working-class background, I’ve worked against prejudice and stereotyping all my life.
My professional practice spans several mediums – as an artist, designer, theatre director, performer, filmmaker, curator, photographer and writer – with a broad extensive experience of cross-disciplinary practice in the arts and cultural sectors. My parents were artists Jeff and Jackie Keen, so I had an amazing grounding in the arts from a very early age. I’ve been working closely with professional art institutions for many years and directed/produced theatre shows, project-managed arts events, festivals and exhibitions. As part of this, my work has included delivering learning programmes and outreach projects.
I’m driven to create thought-provoking work that can amaze and inspire. My work is inspired by Surrealism and science alongside the magic and mysteries within the natural world…
I have always kept sketchbooks from an early age and find myself returning to painting as the deepest form of expression for me. Painting and drawing have been my main output since 2013, while also experimenting in the mediums of collage and assemblage. I now find myself wanting to explore other mediums such as printmaking, clay, fabric and stained glass following on from some of the themes I’ve been thinking about in my work. I am also developing some small film projects and an immersive landscape digital installation examining loss and recovery.
I’m excited by reinventing the mythopoeic – universal storytelling and folk tales – to investigate the intersection between us and Nature. I’m particularly interested in those enduring stories of transformation and the hybrid creature: half animal, half human. For me, it reflects not only our questioning of ourselves, but also our sense of ‘belonging’ in the world. Which tribe do we belong to and so on. Also ‘Genius Loci’ – the spirit of place and what signifies ‘home’. My questions around these subjects recently seem inextricably linked with current environmental concerns. My connection with the land runs deep – spiritually and historically.
Inspiration also comes from research interests in anthropology and science areas. I’ve been looking at our relationship and interconnectivity with nature and the universe through patterns in nature – microcosm and macrocosm. As a result of my fascination with illuminated manuscripts, I’ve been experimenting with that style, in painting often microscopic patterns in nature. This is something I wish to explore further across a variety of mediums, looking particularly at working in clay, fabrics and stained glass.
So far, my artwork has been exhibited as part of group shows and is in a few private collections. I’m now working towards doing more group shows and a solo exhibition.
I’m always interested in developing and delivering new ways of engaging people in the arts. I enjoy an entrepreneurial challenge, thinking creatively and working collaboratively. I’m committed to making the arts accessible to all and supporting community wellbeing.
Testimonials
“Stella Starr is nothing short of a local treasure. It is the likes of individuals such as her who keep Brighton on the map as a town of mischief, glamour and saucy fun. Stella is a woman with a mission, and whether it’s emerging from a giant clam to do a strip or writhing around in King Kong’s hand(!), she achieves what most people merely dream of; by bringing her fantasies alive, through the ever-growing and sensational Vavavavoom!” – Brighton Press on ‘VAVAVAVOOM!
“A vision of old style decadence. Glittering burlesque. Chanteuse and exotic dancer Stella Starr switches the glamour controls to maximum for a celebratory night. Kitty girls and cigarette girls are on hand to point you to the buffet or mop your brow after you have witnessed the dancing bear, white rabbit on stilts or any of the other glitter-clad cabaret acts.” – The Guardian on ‘VAVAVAVOOM!’
“Vavavavoom is the club where Dean Martin meets Peter Pan, where Nancy Sinatra flirts with Eric Morecambe, where Andy Warhol and Elvis are caught in a Carry On movie. A knowing recreation of a bygone era which now seems so innocent and absurd, when there really were people sending out these signals and playing this game with the utmost seriousness. Now we act out the same roles with a light peal of laughter, an exaggerated gesture, and no, that isn’t a tear frozen on our cheeks; it’s just the glitter catching the light.”
– Article on the New Burlesque in The Brighton Reporter
“This was glamour beyond my wildest dreams!” – VAVAVAVOOM! customer.
“Many years ago I worked with Stella at an e-learning company. Stella has a rare ability to read minds. She listens hard and understands what people want, before they even know what they want. What makes her really special is that she isn’t tied into one way of doing things. If you want graphic imagery that is romantic and moody then she can create something that works with that mood; if you want something bright and in your face – she can also do that and if you want something hard-hitting and gritty – well, guess what, she can do that too. This means that Stella is the person I would go to for any graphics work – whatever the project. That’s exactly what I did recently when I wanted a logo – the first person I thought of was Stella and she’s done an amazing piece of work. On top of all of this Stella is a delight to work with – she is funny, open and extremely hard working.” – Henrietta Palmer, award-winning Learning Solutions Manager
“Stella is really better than first class.. You will get not just what you’ve asked for but often what you really wanted but couldn’t quite/didn’t quite articulate at the time. Highly recommended.” – David Matthewson, computer systems consultant