An adventurous free spirit with a penchant for travel, Stephny Ofreneo left her corporate job in hectic New York City for the blissful shores of Bali. The island’s lush tropical greenery, resplendent ocean waters, and slow-paced way of life spawned a burst of explosive creativity in the artist. Moving away from a predominantly black and grey palette, she has embraced the full range of exotic hues: emerald, fern, magenta, lemon, azure. Ofreneo’s acrylic paintings are energizing and full of vitality, alternating broad dynamic brush strokes jutting in all directions with punchy pops of color. Although Ofreneo does not have any preconceived ideas in mind for her compositions, she cannot but capture the beautiful nature that surrounds her. This is especially true for “Bliss,” a splash into the sun-kissed ocean, or “Bali Jungle,” recalling the dense island forest. As part of her commission process, Ofreneo asks her clients to tell their story and identify a song embodying the space that will hold the artwork. She then paints while listening to the selected song to capture the vibe in the piece. Her wish is to “spark the heart and make the soul sing,” awakening a unique emotional response in every viewer.
Ofreneo holds a B.A. in Communication from St. Louis University. After fourteen years working as a marketing consultant in Chicago and New York City, she moved to Indonesia to be a full-time artist. She exhibited in London at The Brick Lane Gallery and The Holy Art and has recently obtained representation with SINGULART. Ofreneo sees herself moving back to the city one day, but will forever treasure the wonderful experience of island living.
