About Stephen
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
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Story Quilts
My story quilts narrate the life of Nat Turner and his 1831 rebellion.
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Birth of a Nation2014 Fiber 5.5'x7.5'
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Special Child2016 Fiber, Glass Beads 36.5"x29"
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The Prophet2016 Fiber, Glass Beads 37"x28.5"
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One Night at Cabin Pond2016 Fiber, Glass Beads 35"x28.5"
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Baptism of Ethelred T Brantley2018 29.5'' x 40'' Fiber, glass beads, buttons
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The Revolt2016 Fiber, Glass Beads 34.5"x27"
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March to Jerusalem2018 30'' x 38'' Fiber, glass beads, buttons
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Black Sun2016 Fiber Glass Beads 35"x27"
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Let No Man Put Asunder-Portrait of Nat Turner2018 30'' x 24'' Fiber, glass beads, buttons
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Let No Man Put Asunder-Portrait of Cherry2018 30'' x 24'' Fiber, glass beads, buttons
Harriet Tubman Quilts
Inspired by the novel Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom by Catherine Clinton, these works are mythical images narrating pivotal moments in Tubman’s life.
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I shall find a path before the sun pierces the moon2018 Natural and synthetic fiber, glass beads, metallic buttons 65in x 53in
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And I shall smite thee2018 46in x 58in Natural and synthetic fiber, glass beads, metallic buttons
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We Will Part WaysWe Will Part Ways 2019 35.5in x 48in Natural and synthetic fabric, nylon tulle, polyester and cotton thread, cotton batting, crystal glass beads, resin buttons
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And the Lord shall cast a spellAnd the Lord shall cast a spell 2019 35.5in x 48in Natural and synthetic fabric, nylon tulle, polyester and cotton thread, cotton batting
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We Shall Pass through the CombaheeWe Shall Pass through the Combahee 2019 45.25inx 62.5i Natural and synthetic fabric, nylon tulle, polyester and cotton thread, metallic thread, crystal glass beads, buttons
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Burning The House DownBurning The House Down 2020 49in x 36.5in Natural and synthetic fabric, nylon tulle, polyester and cotton thread, metallic thread, crystal glass beads, buttons
Sunken
Sunken is a series of portraits on paper inspired by my research about the Zong massacre of 1781 in which 133 slaves were killed by their British slave ship crew. These works are a testament to the resilience of the Africans who survived the Middle Passage.
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Sunken: The CapturedSunken: The Captured Acrylic, Fiber, and Copper Leaf on Paper 16” x 20” 2017
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Sunken: The CrewSunken: The Crew Acrylic, Fiber, and Copper Leaf on Paper 16” x 20” 2017
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Sunken: The CrossingSunken: The Crossing Acrylic, Fiber, and Copper Leaf on Paper 16” x 20” 2017
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Sunken: The CargoSunken: The Cargo Acrylic, Fiber, and Copper Leaf on Paper 16” x 20” 2017
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Sunken: The RiverSunken: The River Acrylic, Fiber, and Copper Leaf on Paper 16” x 20” 2017
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Sunken: The TrialSunken: The Trial Acrylic, Fiber, and Copper Leaf on Paper 16” x 20” 2017
Find Me a Constellation
Find Me A Constellation delves into to lives of children who experienced American slavery. Models for the portraits were sourced from archived images of enslaved children. Because the harsh realities of slavery may be inescapable, the only way to find internal peace was through daydreaming and the stars.
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He Leadeth Me Beside the Still WatersHe Leadeth Me Beside the Still Waters 2016 Acrylic Oil Metal Leaf Bristol Board on Panel 12x12
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He Restoreth My SoulHe Restoreth My Soul 2016 Acrylic Oil Metal Leaf Bristol Board on Panel 12"x12"
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I Fear No Evil2016 Acrylic Oil Metal Leaf Bristol Board on Panel 12x12
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I Shall Not Want2016 Acrylic Oil Metal Leaf Bristol Board on Panel 12x12
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I Will Dwell in the House of the Lord Forever2016 Acrylic Oil Metal Leaf Bristol Board on Panel 12"x12"
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My Cup Runneth Over2016 Acrylic Oil Metal Leaf Bristol Board on Panel 12"x12"
Black Magic
Black Magic examines the role religion has played throughout American history. The figures represent the Nat and Cherry Turner and how they use religion to escape the bonds of slavery, both real and imagined.
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God's Ways are Mysterious2016 Acrylic, Oil, Metal Leaf on Canvas 24"x30"
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The Righteous and the Wise, and their Works are in the Hand of God2016 Acrylic, Oil, Metal Leaf on Canvas 40"x30"
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All is Vanity2016 Acrylic, Oil, Metal Leaf on Canvas 36"x36"
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Whoso Keepeth the Commandment Shall Feel No Evil Thing2016 Acrylic Oil Metal Leaf on Canvas 40"x30"
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No Remembrance of Things to Come2016 Acrylic Oil Metal Leaf on Canvas 33"x28"
Joy Cometh in the Morning
Joy Cometh in the Morning is a series of works paying homage to the enslaved blacks whose lives were lost as a result of Nat Turner's rebellion.
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I Shall Never Be Moved2016 Acrylic, Oil, Metal Leaf, Bristol Board, Canvas and Paper on Panel 24" x 18"
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By Thy Favour Thou Has Made My Mountain to Stand Strong2016 Acrylic, Oil, Metal Leaf, Bristol Board, Canvas and Paper on Panel 24" x 18"
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Shall It Declare Thy Truth2016 Acrylic, Oil, Metal Leaf, Bristol Board, Canvas and Paper on Panel 24" x 18"
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Shall the Dust Praise Thee2016 Acrylic, Oil, Metal Leaf, Bristol Board, Canvas and Paper on Panel 24" x 18"
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Thou Hast Turned for Me my Mourning into Dancing2016 Acrylic, Oil, Metal Leaf, Bristol Board, Canvas and Paper on Panel 24" x 18"
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What Profit is There in my Blood2016 Acrylic, Oil, Metal Leaf, Bristol Board, Canvas and Paper on Panel 24" x 18"
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."
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Sing a Song Full of FaithAcrylic, Metal Leaf, Glitter, Paper Bags on Panel 10”x10” 2015
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May We Forever StandAcrylic, Metal Leaf, Glitter, Paper Bags on Panel 10”x10” 2015
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Let Us March OnAcrylic, Metal Leaf, Glitter, Paper Bags on Panel 10”x10” 2015
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Let our Rejoicing RiseAcrylic, Metal Leaf, Glitter, Paper Bags on Panel 10”x10” 2015
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Facing the Rising SunAcrylic, Metal Leaf, Glitter, Paper Bags on Panel 10”x10” 2015
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Lift Every Voice and SingAcrylic, Metal Leaf, Glitter, Paper Bags on Panel 10”x10” 2015
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.
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UnauthorizedAcrylic, 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.
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For the first time I am really proud of my countryAcrylic, 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.
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I Wish It Was That EasyAcrylic, 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?
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Freedom Papers: US ConstitutionMixed 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."
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Freedom Papers: Bill of RightsMixed 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."
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Freedom Papers: Declaration of IndependenceMixed 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."
An Offering
An Offering draws inspiration from Marcus Rediker’s 2007 book The Slave Ship: A Human History. The eight works pay homage to the many West African people who were uprooted from their families and forced to endure the brutality of the Middle Passage. The shape of each work mimics the diagram of the 18th century British slave ship the Brookes. The figures and shadows in each work represent the multitude of unknown Africans who were captured and forced to live an uncertain future shaped by their captors. The hands holding candles in each work are an offering to these ancestors in a gesture of gratitude and solace.
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An Offering 12018 16” x 49” Acrylic and oil paint, graphite,Bristol board,metal leaf,natural and synthetic fabric, nylon tulle,polyester and cotton thread,and crystal glass beads on wood panel
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An Offering 22018 16” x 49” Acrylic and oil paint, graphite,Bristol board,metal leaf,natural and synthetic fabric, nylon tulle,polyester and cotton thread,and crystal glass beads on wood panel
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An Offering 3.2018 16” x 49” Acrylic and oil paint, graphite,Bristol board,metal leaf,natural and synthetic fabric, nylon tulle,polyester and cotton thread,and crystal glass beads on wood panel
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An Offering 42018 16” x 49” Acrylic and oil paint, graphite,Bristol board,metal leaf,natural and synthetic fabric, nylon tulle,polyester and cotton thread,and crystal glass beads on wood panel
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An Offering 52018 16” x 49” Acrylic and oil paint, graphite,Bristol board,metal leaf,natural and synthetic fabric, nylon tulle,polyester and cotton thread,and crystal glass beads on wood panel
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An Offering 62018 16” x 49” Acrylic and oil paint, graphite, Bristol board,metal leaf, natural and synthetic fabric, nylon tulle, polyester and cotton thread, and crystal glass beads on wood panel
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An Offering 72018 16” x 49” Acrylic and oil paint, graphite, Bristol board,metal leaf, natural and synthetic fabric, nylon tulle, polyester and cotton thread, and crystal glass beads on wood panel
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An Offering 82018 16” x 49” Acrylic and oil paint, graphite, Bristol board,metal leaf, natural and synthetic fabric, nylon tulle, polyester and cotton thread, and crystal glass beads on wood panel