Meet Steven Kean

Today we’re excited to be connecting with Steven Kean again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.

Steven, we are so thrilled to be connecting again and can’t wait to hear about all the amazing things you have been up to. Before we jump into all of that, some of our readers might have missed our prior interview, so can you take a moment to reintroduce yourself?
My name is Steven Kean, an artist working primarily in the woodcut method of relief printmaking. I am a Pennsylvania native, based on the North Shore of Oahu (HI) since 2008. I acquired a degree in Art Education from Temple University in 2004. Over the years, I have held a variety of art teaching positions at the high school and elementary levels. Currently, I work full-time as a professional artist and am on the teaching artist roster with the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts where I implement art residencies a couple of times a year in schools that otherwise, would not have art programs.

Some of the highlights of my professional art career include high-profile commissioned projects with companies such as Vans, Olukai, Starbucks, Google, Hawaii Tourism Japan, Four Seasons, and Baha Mar Luxury Resort.

I would say something that might set me apart is my work ethic. I am willing to grind through the trials and tribulations and what it takes to make a living as an artist. This career path is not for the faint of heart, but for me, there is nothing else in the world I would rather be doing. To create is to live and bringing new pieces of art to life fulfills my soul.

Awesome, so we reached out because we wanted to hear all about what you have been up to since we last connected.
2024 presented great opportunities and challenges for me as a working professional artist. I submitted applications and was accepted into two notable art exhibitions here in the Hawaiian Islands. The first was the 96th Annual Honolulu Printmakers Exhibition in April. 75 works were accepted out of 276 works by 89 artists, and I was fortunate to have two original woodcut prints invited into the show. After studying printmaking at the University of Hawaii back in 2014/15, I worked out of the Honolulu Printmakers studio for several years, making wonderful connections with its members and fellow artists. It is an honor to be invited into this inter-island show, there are so many talented printmakers in the Hawaiian Islands and this exhibition brings them together once a year. The second show that I was super stoked to be accepted into was the Pacific States Biennial North American printmaking exhibition in Hilo, Hawaii. Out of 635 submissions, 56 were accepted, and my woodblock print, ‘Celeste’ made the cut through the jurying process. This exhibit took place in November and was open to artists 18 years or older presently residing anywhere on the North American continent, its islands, and outlying US territories. I had the opportunity to fly over and see the exhibit in person with my wife and mother who was visiting at the time.

Then in November, I was invited to participate in a group show ‘The Swell is Coming’ celebrating ‘Today’s Surf Art Culture.’ This exhibition brought together leading artists from Hawaii and around the world, who have enriched surf culture and broken the barriers between contemporary art and surfing. Hō’ikeākea Gallery on Oahu hosted the show. The opening night was fantastic, it was such an honor to showcase work alongside creative minds I have admired for many years. Shout out to Kosta Kulundzic, an exceptional artist, instructor, and gallery coordinator who curated an incredible and memorable art exhibition.

In addition to the art opportunities, my wife and I did a bit of traveling throughout 2024 visiting my family in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving (food, family, and football!), a fun-filled trip to Oregon and I also squeezed in a surf/road trip in California with one of my best friends, Chris – epic adventures! My wife and I capped off the year with a trip to Japan to bring in 2025. It is always super inspiring to visit Japan (my wife’s native country) as it is home to some of the world’s most influential masters of traditional woodcut printmaking, moku hanga. For me, Hokusai and Hiroshige are at the top of the list of inspirational artists. My wife’s family is originally from Hokkaido and now lives in mainland Japan. We make it a point to spend time with them once or twice a year, eating heaps of amazing authentic Japanese-style home-cooked meals, going to the onsens, buying art supplies, and consuming copious amounts of sushi, ramen, and yakiniku. The culture, people, and food are a pleasure to experience and I look forward to every trip we take to the country.

In addition to the works of art I’ve created and brought into the world since our last conversation in Voyage & Shoutout, I’ve also been learning to speak Japanese. It’s quite a challenge, but I’m enjoying the process and task of exercising a different part of my brain. Domo arigatou gozaimasu!

We have now arrived at one of our favorite parts of the interview – the lightning round. We’ll ask you a few quick questions to give us all some fun insights about you.

Favorite Book: The Four Agreements

Favorite Band or Artist: Ocie Elliot

Mountains or Beach: Both, but mostly an ocean person.

Favorite Breakfast Food: Apple Bananas and coffee

What would the perfect day look like for you? Please give us as many details as possible.
The best days for me are filled with as much time as possible in the ocean. Surfing is a way of life for me here in Hawaii and it is a constant source of inspiration. I feel most clear-headed when I am surfing regularly, so I try to keep that in mind as I head through the week. On a typical day, ideally, I like to wake up before sunrise, get the kettle on, load the car with my surf gear, and get out the door with a coffee, granola bar, and an apple banana. It is the best feeling ever to start the day with a surf. If the surf conditions aren’t ideal, I’ll enjoy my coffee while looking out at the ocean – thinking about what I want to accomplish or doing a quick meditation for the day. Ideally though, I’ll have a surf and afterwards spend time in my home studio working on whatever project I have going on at the moment. After lunch, I’ll usually check emails and/or do a little computer work before immersing myself back in the studio. An optimal day would include a second surf before the sun goes down, followed by a home-cooked meal with my wife. Follow that with a little guitar playing and/or relaxing on the couch before heading to bed to rest, recoup and get my dream on.

Website: https://keanarts.com

Instagram: @keanarts