Sven Atema grew up on Cape Cod, in the town of Woods Hole. A love of the ocean was natural, surrounded on three sides by water and a string of small islands. Now after 20+ years in California Atema has currently set up shop once again on the Cape.
The ocean and issues concerning water are still a pivotal point of reference in Atema’s paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures. And the close scrutiny of nature and our relationship to it is a thread that connects nearly all of his work. There are many characters and themes that exemplify this unique work such as evaporation, primates, bowls of water, tentacles, climate change, macro + micro shapes, jellyships, and the number 3.
Humor is also something that keeps it all moving along.