Hello, I'm Steve Harkin.

Born in Santa Barbara​,​ I grew up surrounded by natural beauty and raised in a family who instilled in me a passion for art​,​ philosophy and music. My father was a Christian minister and my mother was a musician​,​ regularly taking me to museums from an early age. My early fascination with visual storytelling was shaped by fine art​,​ religious iconography​,​ the bold aesthetics of album cover art and the raw energy of skate​/​surf culture. These early influences taught me to see art as both a personal language and a positive spiritual force. I received a BFA in graphic design and painting from Drake University in 1995​,​ studying under award winning painter Jules Kirschenbaum and later refining my practice in Florence​,​ Italy. Immersed in the birthplace of the Renaissance​,​ I developed a deep respect for craft and traditional painting while experimenting with ways to merge classical techniques with contemporary visual culture. After university​,​ I began a career as a graphic designer at Nike​,​ working on projects for LeBron James​,​ Kobe Bryant and Niketown. This kicked off a 30-year journey as a brand creative director for clients such as AT&T​,​ Victoria's Secret and ultimately PwC​,​ where I’m currently the global creative leader. I draw little distinction between painting and graphic design​,​ often incorporating classical art techniques into my more commercial work. Over the past several years​,​ I've been devoting energy to a focused painting practice and establishing a signature style. You can view selections of my work on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harkin.art/