As a child growing up in Wisconsin, Steve Teeple (BFA 2010, Art) was drawn to fantasy worlds. Books, films, and comics filled with mysticism, science fiction, and manga sparked an early fascination that would later shape his creative career.
Today, the UWM alum, known professionally as Teeps, is a Los Angeles-based digital artist working across the realm of 3D art. His practice spans character development, digital sculpting, concept art, illustration, art direction, production modeling and texturing, and 3D printing.
On April 1, he will reflect on his creative path during a virtual lecture for the Artists Now! Guest Lecture Series.
Since earning his BFA in 2010, Teeps has built a career collaborating with major artists and brands. His projects have included work with Billie Eilish and The Weeknd, and large companies such as Netflix, Disney, Google, and Warner Bros.
Growing up in a spiritual and superstitious family also shaped his artistic curiosity, drawing him toward supernatural and mystical themes.
“I grew up around books and movies, and comics about mysticism and fantasy, and I think that really shaped who I am now,” Teeps said. “I was exposed to books like The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and anime and manga when I was really young, and that really shaped what my work would become.”
That curiosity also led him to explore a wide range of creative disciplines within the field of 3D art.
“Being so specialized in one thing can be disruptive and cause some issues, but so many people come to me to help with so many different things,” Teeps explained. “I have an overly curious mind that wants to learn things, and outside of the work I get paid for, I get to do this all day.”
While studying at the Peck School of the Arts, Teeps was a part of the Technical Arts program, now known as the Creative Technologies program. He credits former Senior Lecturer Tim Decker and Dr. Nathaniel Stern for helping him develop as an artist.
“Stern was definitely a mentor to me, and he definitely helped me with some major projects during my time at UWM,” Teeps said. “He taught me so much about artistic statement and developing my artistic voice outside of what I was learning in class.”
In his Artists Now! lecture, Teeps plans to share insights from his career and reflect on the path that led him into the field.
“I really want students to take away that the path isn’t always straight, and that’s okay,” said Teeps. “I had a crazy trajectory on how I got here, and I want students to know that it’s okay to try things out.”
More information about Teeps’ Artists Now! lecture is available on the Peck School of the Arts events calendar. To learn more about his work, visit his website.
Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)