August 12, 2025
ArtStreet Artist Feature: Stephen Finkenauer
Stephen Finkenauer is a lifelong artist who has been creating for more than 60 years. Born in Denver and based in Albuquerque for most of his life, Stephen studied at the Art Students League in New York City in the late 1960s, where he honed his skills and developed a deep appreciation for color theory and the expressive potential of landscape and motion.
His work is inspired by the freedom and energy of horses and the vivid colors of the Southwestern landscape. He often paints different versions of the same scene—shifting weather, changing horses, and varied light—capturing the feeling of movement and immersion. “Horses are always running toward the viewer,” he explains, “so the viewer gets more involved, not just as an observer.” Though colorblind, Stephen has developed a striking visual style by intuitively studying how colors interact, often creating vibrant and unexpected combinations.
Stephen has been part of ArtStreet since its very first day over 30 years ago, finding creative refuge and purpose through the community. Referred by a friend while in alcohol rehab at the Salvation Army, his first painting—a door—sold for $200, sparking a new chapter in his artistic life. Since then, his pieces have sold for up to $2,200, and his work has been featured in galleries such as Dreams Gallery, Bright Rain, Jesebel’s in Madrid, and others around the world.
Now 72, Stephen paints regularly at ArtStreet, where he says, “Without it, I’d be up to no good. It keeps me out of trouble and grounded.” His body of work includes horses in New Mexican landscapes and continues to evolve with color, movement, and meaning at its heart.
