Stephen Kasner

{{Short description|American multidisciplinary artist (1970–2019)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}

Image:Small stephen.jpg

Stephen Kasner (April 3, 1970 – December 25, 2019) was an American multidisciplinary artist from Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Primarily a painter and illustrator but also a musician, photographer, graphic artist, occultist and magician; Kasner was mainly known through his cover artwork designs for bands such as Rotting Christ, Decrepit, Sunn O))), Integrity, Marduk, & Pulling Teeth among many others.{{Cite web|date=2019-12-27|title=In Memoriam 2019: Artists We Lost This Year|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/memoriam-2019-artists-we-lost-year|access-date=2020-10-09|website=Revolvermag.com|language=en}}

His paintings have been exhibited all over the world and are noted for their sinister (sometimes satanic) themes and otherworldly aesthetic; influencing a new wave of artists in the dark arts.{{Cite web|url=https://epilogue.net/|title=Epilogue - Fantasy and Sci-fi at their best.|website=Epilogue.net|access-date=December 23, 2020}} His artwork, drawings and photographs usually reflect visions of a pre/post-apocalyptic industrial landscape and the struggle for survival contained in dreams of enlightenment.

Besides working in paint, photography, and drawings Stephen Kasner also created experimental music under the name Blood Fountains, where he performed on guitars, bass, and keyboards.{{Cite web|url=http://knellsound.blogspot.com/|title=K N E L L S O U N D|website=Knellsound.blogspot.com|access-date=December 23, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacbee.com/art/story/459034-p2.html|title=Art Galleries - Visions in the dark|date=November 28, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128082614/http://www.sacbee.com/art/story/459034-p2.html|access-date=December 23, 2020|archive-date=November 28, 2007}}

He did album artwork for Khlyst,{{Cite web|url=http://hydraheadlines.blogspot.com/2006/08/khlyst-chaos-is-my-name.html|title=KHLYST "Chaos is My Name"|website=Hydraheadlines.blogspot.com|access-date=December 23, 2020}} Sunn O))),{{Cite web|url=https://southernlord.com/|title=Home|date=November 29, 2017|website=Southernlord.com|access-date=December 23, 2020}} Integrity,{{Cite web|url=https://holyterrorrecords.bigcartel.com/|title=Holy Terror Records|website=Holyterrorrecords.bigcartel.com|access-date=December 23, 2020}} Lotus Eaters, Skullflower, Justin Broadrick, Subarachnoid Space{{Cite web|url=https://subarachnoidspace.bandcamp.com/|title=Char-Broiled Wonderland single, by subarachnoid space|website=Subarachnoidspace.bandcamp.com|access-date=December 23, 2020}} and Martin Grech,[https://web.archive.org/web/20070811205121/http://www.martingrech.co.uk/] among many others.

Kasner released the book Stephen Kasner Works: 1993 – 2006 (Scapegoat Publishing, 2007),{{Cite web|url=http://www.scapegoatpublishing.com/blog/stephen-kasner-works-1993-2006/|title=Scapegoat Publishing » Stephen Kasner: WORKS 1993–2006|website=Scapegoatpublishing.com|access-date=December 23, 2020}} a lavish career retrospective with text by various artistic luminaries and collaborations with Seldon Hunt, David D'Andrea, Dwid Hellion, Steven Leyba, and Steven Cerio.{{Cite web|url=http://stylusmagazine.com/|title=Stylus Magazine|website=Stylusmagazine.com|access-date=December 23, 2020|archive-date=February 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204230545/http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/pink/mssundaztood.htm|url-status=dead}}

Stephen Kasner died on December 25, 2019. His longtime friend and fellow Cleveland native, Dwid, from the band Integrity (for which Kasner had provided artwork) posted through Twitter in homage: "Stephen Kasner was my friend. He will be deeply missed. I hope that his artwork will remind us of his tortured brilliance and haunted vision. May his death serve as a stark reminder of how fragile we can be. To those of you who may be struggling out there, who might feel alone. You are not alone. Stay strong."[https://www.facebook.com/organizedcrimerecs/photos/a.266434350065841/3350109191698326/?type=3%7B%7BPrimary+source+inline%7Cdate=January+2020%7D%7D] {{dead link|date=December 2020}}