Painter Stephan Basso is known for his shrewd social observations, which often translate into eerily humorous figurative scenes. “I tend to view painting and drawing as a primal force in a highly technological world,” he says. Basso is particularly drawn to Latin American art, channeling its mix of Western and African influences and imagery into his vibrant, often surrealistic images that suggest ambiguous narratives. Basso professes being drawn to “a paradoxical art that asks questions yet reveals no answers.”