BIOGRAPHY

Stephen Della Casa is a lens-based artist who explores cultural and social issues through conceptual and abstract interpretations. His work often focuses on the natural world, with occasional ventures into architecture and portraiture. Born in Canada to German and Italian parents, Stephen’s practice emphasizes artistic responses, prioritizing personal expression over documentation. Themes he has explored include his family’s migration history, covering regions such as the Czech Republic, the former Sudetenland, northern Italy, and Ontario, Canada.

Stephen holds a Bachelor of Arts in law from Carleton University, where he first became aware of social issues that would later shape his artistic work. Following a thirty-five-year career in hospitality, Stephen shifted his focus to his creative pursuits. He earned an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from OCAD University, where he received the prestigious Governor General’s Award for academic excellence. His projects are grounded in extensive research and reading, leading to works such as books on subjects including social spaces and forgotten histories, all driven by a highly selective and reflective creative process that challenges conventional narrative structures.