Stephen Quay and Timothy Quay

Stephen Quay and Timothy Quay are twin filmmakers and Professors of Film and Animation at The European Graduate School / EGS. They collaborate on all creative and academic work, teaching summer workshops there. Born in 1947 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, their early exposure to European immigrant culture influenced their fascination with Central and Eastern European art, literature, and politics.

They studied art at the University of the Arts, Philadelphia (1960s), and the Royal College of Art, London, establishing their studio in London where they remain resident artists. Their work is defined by stop-motion animation blending surrealist aesthetics with dark psychological themes, influenced by Kafka, Jan Švankmajer, and Polish writers like Bruno Schulz.

Major works include Street of Crocodiles (1986), based on Schulz’s story, and feature films like Institute Benjamenta (1995). They’ve also created operatic set designs (e.g., winning the Drama Desk Award for The Chairs in 1998) and music videos for artists like Peter Gabriel. Their films often explore dystopian landscapes, existential themes, and the interplay between art and reality.

Academically, they teach animation techniques emphasizing hands-on, collaborative workshop environments. Their pedagogy reflects their belief in the transformative power of stop-motion as a medium for storytelling and cultural critique.