Organising Principle Ratio, new solo exhibit by Stephen Boyd

Organising Principle Ratio

Stephen Boyd makes images from simple rules repeated many times. He does not decide where a single shape goes. He writes the rules, and when followed, they determine the images.

Each work in Organising Principle Ratio begins as a short set of instructions with a small amount of randomness embedded at specific points. Followed once, the instructions make one image. And when followed again and again, more images are created that are familiar but each one is unique. A simple pattern repeated millions of times produces structure, and sometimes beauty, that no single rule describes. Most of these systems can generate more versions than anyone will ever see. Boyd chose every image in this show, and he made the works on the analogue wall by hand.

The title, Organising Principle Ratio, is the name of a variable Boyd uses in all of his code to hold a ratio. This OPR value is used to set proportions, bias random selections, constrain or expand parameters, and more. Because one variable does all of this, each image coheres, and so does every other image the same rules can make.

One wall holds works printed from code. The other holds works made by hand in cyanotype, ink, pastel, and imitation gold leaf, where sunlight, wet chemistry, and the hand add variation of their own. On both walls, a slipped brush stroke or a bug in code he writes himself becomes part of the result.

A handwritten line of code runs around the room and ends behind Pompidou Recomposed No. 4. The code comes from a software library Boyd wrote that defines mathematical constants and randomness sampling functions that are used in all of Boyd’s rule-based pieces. The block of code behind Pompidou Recomposed No. 4 shows the rules Boyd has written into code that, when run, create the image we see, and countless variations of images we will never see.                  

Artist Statement, 2026

Family & friends gathered Saturday October 24 to celebrate Stephen Boyd's solo show at GAS. This is Stephen's first show as a member of Gerrard Art Space. The show is a huge accomplishment - Organising Principle Ratio on view until November 8.

Please see pics from reception below.

                                         

                                                  artist Stephen Boyd ( left) with friend

& family canine Marley

evolution, revolution...Or Blame It On Eve-solo installation by Joanne Filletti; September 9-27

This project is a homage to the ancient world of Roman & Greek frescoes, and the knowledge, discipline and perseverance necessary for all arts to endure. It is my hope that the figures represented here, describe a different type of revolution, a type of movement that celebrates the pursuit of knowledge, ( learning to read, learning a craft) and expression (acting on that knowledge). Maybe the arts can co-opt or subvert this rupture happening now, and start another type of revolution. A revolution where human imagination and ingenuity are celebrated and remain intact as an extension of humanity and not a disembodied “it” void of spirit, or a soul for the matter. I remain hopeful.

This show is dedicated to the Old Testament story of Eve - thank you for taking the first bite, questioning thus rupturing the powers that be.

Excerpt from Artist Statement

Thank you to everyone who made it out to the reception Saturday September 12. The turnout was exceptional and I am very grateful that you were all there to celebrate this show with me.

Please check out your lovely faces below.

Thanks again,

Joanne