Steve Keene
About Steve Keene
Greenpoint’s Prolific Painter of Accessible Art
Steve Keene (born 1957) is a Brooklyn-based painter known for producing thousands of hand-painted works using an assembly-line technique that makes original art affordable and accessible. Based in Greenpoint, NYC, Keene has been dubbed the “assembly-line Picasso” by Time Magazine for his high-volume, high-energy painting process. He works quickly on plywood panels, often creating multiple versions of the same image in a single session.
Inspired by the spirit of indie music and DIY culture, Keene famously said, “I want buying my paintings to be like buying a CD: it’s cheap, it's art and it changes your life, but the object has no status.” This ethos of democratized art has earned him a cult following among collectors, musicians, and fans of underground culture.
Steve Keene first gained attention selling his work at indie rock shows, eventually collaborating with bands like Pavement, Silver Jews, The Apples in Stereo, Soul Coughing, The Klezmatics, and Dave Matthews Band. His artwork has been featured on album covers, stage sets, posters, and music videos, fusing visual art with the raw immediacy of live performance.
With over 300,000 paintings created, Keene’s output is as prolific as it is personal—each piece a fragment of his expansive, ever-evolving visual language.
Artistic Works Include:
Pictured: Billie and Finneas Painting
Artist Steve Keene captures Billie Eilish and Finneas in a portrait, celebrating their Grammy-winning success. Painted in Keene’s bold style, this vibrant piece honors the iconic sibling duo behind some of today’s biggest hits. A must-have for fans of indie art, music memorabilia, and pop culture icons.
Pictured: Fun Trick Noisemaker (The Apples in Stereo) Painting
Steve Keene, known for his vibrant, accessible artwork, continues his tribute to The Apples in Stereo with a new painting in his signature acrylic-on-wood style. After painting the iconic cover for their album Fun Trick Noisemaker, this piece carries on the visual legacy, capturing the band’s psychedelic indie-pop energy.
Pictured: Cleopatra Painting
This striking 12.25" x 15.75" acrylic-on-wood painting by Steve Keene features a vivid portrayal of Cleopatra, rendered in bold blues and vibrant pinks. True to Keene’s signature style, the piece combines expressive brushwork with pop-cultural flair, blending history and modern art aesthetics.