I pursued education in fine art because of my ability to draw. Lacking confidence in my artistic abilities at the time, I applied my natural curiosity about the world to the biological and physical sciences, ultimately earning a doctor of medicine degree and a masters in epidemiology. Throughout my public health career, I have applied my creativity where possible. As I transition into my retirement in my late fifties, I am committing my full-time energy to return to the fine arts and fulfill a journey I had begun as a child. Medicine and epidemiology have taught me how to think critically and to problem solve: skills I actively apply to my artistic ideas. I understand what inspires me to create and appreciate art and see that this is where our individuality lies. As I honor my parents by my actions, I am creating works related to my childhood and drawing from my own experiences allowing new ideas to form as I travel and consider masterpieces, architecture, nature and the state of our world.
Color, texture, tone, patterns, images and impact are the elements of art that stimulate my senses the most. I have reconnected with the Houghton Mifflin Reader series – a set of English curriculum textbooks used in the 1970s to educate elementary school children. Core concepts from these texts, titles and imagery inspired me as a boy to draw and paint and wonder about the world. Themes like Panorama, Kaleidoscope, Images and Galaxies have mapped out my current creative direction as I draw and paint complex landscapes, spirally-designed still lifes, human relationships and the universe. I plan on designing collages from a cache of intaglio prints I made in the 1990s that describe many of these educational concepts to further express my experiences as I interpret the world through my individual lens.
I am expanding my creative thinking and building technical abilities as I develop relationships in the Northeast United States and in the United Kingdom. As I return to the United States I am empowered to challenge the current Federal administration’s foolish and cruel policies. I am developing a set of images under the theme of “Not Going Anywhere”, a statement about queer lives and the reality of people living in this century. I am integrating galactic themes and global challenges as I design paintings that reflect the human condition and the subatomic nature of the universe. My fine arts masters thesis was titled “Organic Psychology and the Universe” – an exploration of structure and relationships that describe levels of the visual spectrum. I intend to continue making art with this underlying scientific curiosity at the forefront.
Steven J. Alles earned his bachelor’s degree in painting in 1989 from the State University of New York at Potsdam. During the 1990s, he earned a master’s in fine art in 1995 from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) while working full-time for the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Rochester. He majored in painting and minored in printmaking. His interest in the biological sciences and helping people in need led him to complete a bachelor’s degree in biology from RIT and attending medical school in 1997. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2001 from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse New York and then moved to Philadelphia Pennsylvania where he matched in Internal Medicine at Temple University Hospital. He completed a Preventive Medicine Residency in 2004 at the University of Maryland in Baltimore that included a masters degree of science in epidemiology.
After residency, Dr. Alles accepted a position at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health as a Medical Epidemiologist in the Division of Disease Control. He investigated cases of communicable diseases and worked on outbreak control. He also developed health surveillance systems to detect outbreaks and cases of biological terrorism to improve reporting and led a regional health system coordinated approach to pandemic influenza plan development. He was promoted in 2008 to Manager of the Bioterrorism and Emergency Response Program, building a team and responding to local emergencies. He worked closely with health systems and the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management through Hurricanes Irene (2011), Hurricane Sandy (2012), the visit of Pope Francis (2015). In this role he served as the Medical Director for the Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps of volunteers.
In 2017, Dr. Alles was promoted to the Director position of the Division of Disease Control. In this role he oversaw 170 employees and an annual budget of 30 million dollars. He had direct oversight of Acute Communicable Diseases, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), Tuberculosis Control, Immunizations, Healthcare Associated Infections-Antimicrobial Resistance, Viral Hepatitis, Bioterrorism and Emergency Preparedness and Epidemiology. He led the response to a major Hepatitis A outbreak in 2018 affecting homeless and addicted populations by conducting vaccine street outreach and coordinated with local emergency departments to provide free vaccine. He leveraged the Philadelphia Health Code to close two dental practices suspected of egregious breaches in infection control potentially causing transmission of Hepatitis B, C and HIV. He promoted STD testing and treatment and targeted immunizations at Pride events to Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ community through direct on-site engagement and teaching.
2003, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore MD • Master of Science in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine GPA: 3.8
2001, Upstate Medical University, State University of New York (SUNY), Syracuse NY • Doctor of Medicine
1997, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester NY • Bachelor of Science, Major: Biology GPA: 4.0
1995, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester NY • Master of Fine Arts, Major: Painting, Minor: Printmaking GPA: 3.8
1989, Potsdam College, State University of New York (SUNY), Potsdam NY • Bachelor of Arts, Major: Painting GPA: 3.3
2025
Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, UK
Knock Back - Build Up – Advanced large scale drawing techniques
2025
Cerulean Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Painting and Poetry
2024
FEU Pottery Studio, Bordeux, France
Throwing and advanced pottery
2024
Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, UK
Open Studio in Large Portraiture (Big Heids)
2006 – 2007
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Throwing and advanced pottery
2024
Glasgow Green, and Red, and Purple…, Wasps at the Briggait, Glasgow, UK
1999
Borders Books and Music, Carousel Mall, Syracuse, NY
2025
(scheduled July) Glasgow Grey and Wet: Inspiring Three Creatives in Different Ways, The Alchemy Experiment, Glasgow, UK
2001
On My Own Time, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY
2000
On My Own Time, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY
1999
On My Own Time, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY
1995
Graduate Thesis Exhibition, Bevier Gallery, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Painting and Printmaking Juried Exhibition, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
1992
Figure Paintings Exhibit, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Landscape Paintings Exhibit, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY
1991
Abstraction Exhibit, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
1989
Senior Honors Show, Gibson Gallery SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY
Annual Juried Student Art Show, Gibson Gallery SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY
2024
Made in Glasgow, The AC Collective, The Alchemy Experiment, Glasgow, UK
Awaken Your Dreams - ArtWell, Moore College of Art and Design Main Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1999
Novartis/MS JAMA, Frank Netter Art Contest Winner
2023 - present
Board Member, ArtWell – Awaken Your Dreams, Program Development Committee
2017 – 2020, total employment 2003 – 2020
Director – Division of Infectious Disease Control, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA
2005 – present
Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps
February 2025 - present
Vox Building Artist Studios, Philadelphia, PA
2023 – 2025
The Loom – Arts Organization, Philadelphia, PA
2024 – present
Wasps Briggait, Glasgow, UK
Matrix Communications Group Inc. Corporate Offices, Syracuse NY (3 pieces)
University of Rochester, Pain Management Center, Rochester NY (3 pieces)
