About Stephen

Baltimore City

Stephen Towns (Baltimore, MD) is a painter and fiber artist whose work explores how American history influences contemporary American society. Originally from South Carolina, Towns received a Bachelor of Fine Art in painting from the University of South Carolina.

His work has been exhibited at The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, Baltimore Museum of Art, Art+ Practice, The David C. Driskell Center, Jack Shainman’s The School Gallery, and The… more

Family Quilt

Family Quilt explores the inter-connectivity of familial and ancestral relationships. I am interested in the idea of the importance of one connecting to one’s ancestral roots. Historically, African-American families were torn apart do to the slave trade. African-Americans were prohibited from learning to read or write. Family members were often purchased or sold with no regard for the "family unit." Therefore, there is the question of how does one connect to their ancestral roots if family history has been lost or unrecorded. The collection contains a series of portraits of my family members, both by blood and marriage. Each was personal explorations of my relationship to my family. The shapes and patterns in the painting were loosely based on African patterns, images of structural DNA, and fingerprints.
  • Memories Past
    Memories Past
    Oil, Metal Leaf on Panel 11" x 14"
  • Into the Sun-Man as Adam
    Into the Sun-Man as Adam
    Oil, Metal Leaf on Panel 11" x 14"
  • Into the Sun-Woman As Eve
    Into the Sun-Woman As Eve
    Oil, Metal Leaf on Panel 11" x 14"
  • Coded
    Coded
    Oil, Metal Leaf on Panel 11" x 14"
  • Africa Decoded
    Africa Decoded
    Oil, Metal Leaf on Panel 11" x 14"
  • Heredity
    Heredity
    Oil, Metal Leaf on Panel 11" x 14"

Brown Bag Test

These works are an exploration of the idea of "colorism" and "brown bag parties" within Black America. The concept of lighter skin tone being "more beautiful" and "desirable" is cross-cultural and exists all over the world. Castes systems developed as a result of this way of thinking. These are a series of mixed-media pieces. The portraits are both acrylic and oil paintings and the backgrounds are made up of paper grocery bags. Each subject's skin tone is being "tested" against the paper bags.
  • I Am More Than You Think
    I Am More Than You Think
    Brown Bags, Acrylic Paint, Fabric, Paper on Panel
  • Tears Until Joy
    Tears Until Joy
    Brown Bags, Acrylic Paint, Fabric, Paper on Panel
  • Pattern of Thought
    Pattern of Thought
    Brown Bags, Acrylic Paint, Fabric, Paper on Panel
  • Greater Than, Lesser Than
    Greater Than, Lesser Than
    Brown Bags, Acrylic Paint, Fabric, Paper on Panel
  • All I Have
    All I Have
    Brown Bags, Acrylic Paint, Fabric, Paper on Panel
  • Something From Nothing
    Something From Nothing
    Brown Bags, Acrylic Paint, Fabric, Paper on Panel
  • Brown Bag Test
    Brown Bag Test
    Oil, Acrylic, Metal Leaf, Paper Bags, on Masonite

co|patriot pt 2

co|patriot is a collection of work inspired by Stephen Towns' readings of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, Solomon Northrup’s “Twelve Years a Slave”, and Harriet Ann Jacob’s “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl”. These classic works have helped to inform and broaden Towns’ view of the systemic oppression that has affected contemporary Black Americans. Each work of art examines the relationship Black Americans have had with their country and history, both known and lost.
  • Unauthorized
    Unauthorized
    Acrylic, Silver Leaf on Panel. Unauthorized was created in response to the 2014 release of Army Regulation 670-1. The document banned a number of hairstyles that negatively impacted black women.
  • For the first time I am really proud of my country
    For the first time I am really proud of my country
    Acrylic, Silver Leaf on Panel Black Americans must reconcile with a troubled historical past to maintain a level of patriotism. A past where their ancestors were neither considered citizens nor human beings. This work was inspired by the statement Michelle Obama said in 2008 for which she was heavily criticized.
  • I Wish It Was That Easy
    I Wish It Was That Easy
    Acrylic, Metal Leaf on Panel. There was a long and violent history in the struggle for Black Americans to attain voting rights. Has the right to vote changed America's consciousness?
  • Freedom Papers: US Constitution
    Freedom Papers: US Constitution
    Mixed Media. Using the imagery of the minstrel show, the Freedom Papers triptych reveals the hypocrisy of America's freedom documents. These work employ the proverbial principle to "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil."
  • Freedom Papers: Bill of Rights
    Freedom Papers: Bill of Rights
    Mixed Media. Using the imagery of the minstrel show, the Freedom Papers triptych reveals the hypocrisy of America's freedom documents. These work employ the proverbial principle to "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil."
  • Freedom Papers: Declaration of Independence
    Freedom Papers: Declaration of Independence
    Mixed Media. Using the imagery of the minstrel show, the Freedom Papers triptych reveals the hypocrisy of America's freedom documents. These work employ the proverbial principle to "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil."

Lift Every Voice and Sing

This series of works were inspired by James Weldon Johnson's poem "Lift Every Voice and Sing" which is often referred to as the "Negro National Anthem."
  • Sing a Song Full of Faith
    Sing a Song Full of Faith
    Acrylic, Metal Leaf, Glitter, Paper Bags on Panel 10”x10” 2015
  • May We Forever Stand
    May We Forever Stand
    Acrylic, Metal Leaf, Glitter, Paper Bags on Panel 10”x10” 2015
  • Let Us March On
    Let Us March On
    Acrylic, Metal Leaf, Glitter, Paper Bags on Panel 10”x10” 2015
  • Let our Rejoicing Rise
    Let our Rejoicing Rise
    Acrylic, Metal Leaf, Glitter, Paper Bags on Panel 10”x10” 2015
  • Facing the Rising Sun
    Facing the Rising Sun
    Acrylic, Metal Leaf, Glitter, Paper Bags on Panel 10”x10” 2015
  • Lift Every Voice and Sing
    Lift Every Voice and Sing
    Acrylic, Metal Leaf, Glitter, Paper Bags on Panel 10”x10” 2015