In this insightful conversation, we sit down with the ever-evolving Steli Christoff to dive deep into his artistic journey, process, and inspiration. From his early days experimenting with various art forms to his current focus on collage and abstraction, Christoff shares how exploration and change have shaped his creative path. His unique blend of intuition and professionalism allows him to create works that tell captivating stories—mixing the past, present, dreams, and reality in ways that truly resonate.

 

 

Check Out Steli's Works HERE

Have you always been a collage artist?


Of course, I haven’t always been a collage artist. For me, it has always been very important to explore the limits of my own abilities as an artist. The search for new directions for development, new themes, and the discovery of new means of expression is an important part of my path in the world of art. In this sense, change is an essential element of the creative process. At the moment, my creative research goes mainly in two directions: one in the field of collage, and the other in abstraction and the study of color. This enriches me as an artist and opens new horizons for me.

 

What does your artistic routine look like?


This is a very interesting question, especially the word ‘routine.’ If we define it as the way of executing a certain idea or project, then professionalism must be at the highest level. But if we look at ‘routine’ in another sense, it can imply stagnation in the development of an artist. For me, the word 'routine' makes sense primarily in the professional attitude and realization of a project.

 

How do you know when you are done with each artwork?


This is not easy to judge, even after so many years of experience. It seems to me that it is very individual—different for each artist. For me, intuition and feeling are key, but of course, professionalism in execution and technique is the obligatory foundation.

 

Do you sketch out the artwork in advance or create a maquette?


I always make small sketches, but they are quite general and do not include details. Then I let my intuition and sense of composition and color guide me to a great extent. When you combine collage and color, understanding composition becomes more complicated. The innate and acquired feelings must be in sync with learned knowledge. But this is a complex matter that deviates somewhat from the question.

 

What is your favorite subject matter to include?


I prefer not to have a favorite topic. This makes me feel equally committed to each one. I am interested in subjects where there is a story about love, or where the freedom of the human spirit is felt.

What is your favorite collage to date?


I don’t have a specific favorite collage. In all the artworks I’ve created and from which I am satisfied with the final result, I have left feelings, emotions, experiences, and dreams. What they have in common is that they are entirely positive. I would be very happy if they are passed on to the audience. I see my work as a kind of sharing of positive emotions.

 

Where do your visions come from? (dreams, real life, etc.)


Sources of inspiration can be many, everywhere, and different. I don’t like to set limits. My collages are usually told stories or a collection of stories. For example, my "City Series" of stylized flowers, hearts, or purely geometric compositions have metaphorical, poetic, and lyrical meanings, inspired by my travels to world-famous metropolises such as Paris, New York, London, Venice, Rome, and Barcelona. These collages are a mixture—a 'patchwork'—of 'found' old and new tickets, postcards, stickers, flyers, and, of course, fragments of the urban environment captured by my camera. Dreams can also be an incredible source of inspiration. Mixing past and present, dreams and reality is my favorite formula.

 

Where do you source all your materials? Especially for your ski pieces, because you have a wide variety of ski hills represented in your work.


Yes, this question is a continuation of the previous one. My ski-themed collages largely show my idea of mixing past and present, dreams and reality. Old ski magazines are my main materials, in combination with acrylic paints and gold and silver leaf. Apart from the amazing photographs symbolizing the unique feelings of freedom, courage, and pleasure in skiing, I also use the color of these images as the basis for the picturesqueness of the canvas. The words, texts, different fonts, and names of the ski resorts are also important elements of the composition. Each cover is different, from a different time, telling a different story. Each work is a separate album of stories about the love for skiing.

 

How do you apply the gold and silver leaf in your work?


Gold and silver leaf are techniques that have been popular since the Middle Ages, most notably used in icons. The technique of applying them remains the same today. However, the meaning is very different. While in icons, it was an expression of the sacred and divine, in modern times, it has a completely different significance. In my works, gold and silver leaf bring an element of 'chic'—an affordable luxury that separates them from the ordinary and the banal.

 

Do you use oil pastel to create the lettering in your work?


I never use pastels in my work. Maybe this is the question where I can briefly talk about my technique. This is a specific technique that I discovered almost by accident in the process of working. It includes applying and rubbing several layers of color, which produces the effect of a patina, a technique known from sculpture.

 

Which artists have inspired your work?


This is probably the most difficult question because so many artists have inspired me over the years. I’m afraid I’ll miss someone if I try to name them all. They come from different periods and movements in art. However, I can mention some artists whose work I feel closest to my own sensitivity: V. Kandinsky, P. Klee, Miró, A. Burri, J. Johns, R. Rauschenberg, R. Indiana, A. Warhol, G. Richter, and Christo. I’ll stop here, as the list could go on.

Can you share your most unique interaction with a fan or collector?


Perhaps one of the most interesting events is from the beginning of my career as an artist. In the early '90s, when I was still a student at the Academy of Arts, a collector who worked as a dentist bought my first two works. After a while, he wanted to buy two or three more of my works, offering me a barter deal in exchange for dental services for me and my wife. At that point, I had just graduated, and we didn’t have much money, so I decided to accept.

 

What advice would you give to yourself when you were starting out?


If you have the inner need to create, to be an artist as much as you need to eat or sleep, then it will happen—you will succeed. Nothing will be able to stop you from achieving your dreams, and even surpassing them, if this feeling is inside you and you are truly committed. I said this to myself in the beginning, and I would say the same to myself now. I am happy to share these words with anyone who wants to engage in any kind of art.

 

If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?


For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to become an artist. I’m aware of that now. I don’t know if it’s a predestination or a calling, but I also felt it as a responsibility to follow my heart and dreams.

 

 

 

Steli’s art is not just about technique or materials; it’s about emotions, experiences, and the constant search for new horizons. Whether through his city-inspired collages or ski-themed works, Christoff’s passion for storytelling is palpable. We hope you enjoyed this deep dive into his world, and encourage you to discover more of his thought-provoking creations at Whistler Contemporary Gallery.

 

 

 

Check Out All the Pieces by Steli HERE


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