Steven Parrino

Steven Parrino (1958–2005) was an American artist known for his radical approach to painting, performance, and video art. Born in New York and raised on Long Island, Parrino received an Associate in Applied Science degree from the State University of New York at Farmingdale in 1979 and a BFA from the New School, New York, in 1982. His work is characterized by large monochrome paintings that he violently slashed, twisted, or detached from their frames, transforming them into three-dimensional objects.

Parrino’s art was influenced by punk nihilism and the counterculture movements of the 1970s and 1980s. He drew from a deep understanding of art history and the avant-garde, incorporating iconoclastic figures and imagery such as the Hells Angels insignia and rebel flags. His work is often associated with the Neo-Geo movement, although he preferred to align himself with broader avant-garde traditions and the subversive ethos of punk rock.

His major works include "13 Shattered Panels for Joey Ramone" (2001), a memorial to the punk legend, and "Death in America #2" (2003), echoing Andy Warhol’s "Death and Disaster" series. Parrino’s art extended beyond canvas to include installations, such as painted environments and sleek metal sculptures that related to his misshapen canvases.

Parrino’s work has been exhibited in prestigious institutions like the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and the Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain in Geneva. His estate is represented by Gagosian Gallery, and his artworks continue to fetch high prices at auctions, with a notable sale of "SCREW BALL" (1988) for $977,000 in 2020.