Lou Stovall

Stovall grew up in Springfield, MA and he studied at Howard University,[3] where he earned a BFA in 1965.[4] He also received a Doctor of Fine Arts Honoris Causa, from the now closed Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, Washington, D.C. in 2001. He has lived and worked in Washington, D.C. since 1962.[1]

Stovall is most often associated with drawing and silkscreen printmaking.[4][5] In 1968 he founded Workshop, Inc.,[4][1][6] initially a community studio which has subsequently grown into a professional printmaking facility used by many artists,[6][7] including Josef Albers, Peter Blume, Alexander Calder, Gene Davis, Sam Gilliam,[5] Jacob Kainen, Jacob Lawrence,[5] Robert Mangold, Mathieu Mategot, Pat Buckley Moss, Paul Reed, Reuben Rubin, Di Bagley Stovall, and James L. Wells. In a 1998 New York Times profile of Stovall, American artist Jacob Lawrence described him as “a craftsman who is also an artist.”[8]

Stovall's art has been exhibited in many galleries, art centers, and museums. Additionally, he has been the recipient of several high-profile art commissions. In 1982, First Lady Nancy Reagan commissioned Stovall to design that year's Independence Day invitation for the White House. Subsequently, in 1986 Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry commissioned Stovallto create a work for the city's host committee for the 1988 Democratic National Convention.[4]

His artwork is in the collection of several museums, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC,[9] The National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., The National Endowment of the Arts, Washington, D.C., The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C., The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., the Bristol Museum in Bristol, R.I.,[5] the Bayly Art Museum in Charlottesville, VA,[5] the Studio Museum in Harlem,[5] and the Washington D.C. Commission of the Arts and Humanities.

The Washington City Paper once described him as "legendary in his adopted hometown of Washington."[2]

2005 - Printmaker of Distinction Award, Southern Graphics Conference, Washington, D.C.[1]

1985 - Mayor's Art Award for Excellence in an Artistic Discipline, Washington, D.C.[1]

1979 - Washingtonian of the Year, Washingtonian Magazine, Washington, D.C.[10]

1972-1974 - The National Endowment for the Arts, Workshop Grants[11]

1972 - The National Endowment for the Arts, Individual Artist Fellowship Grant[11]

1968-1974 - Stern Family Fund Grant[1]

2020 - The Columbus Museum, Columbus, GA[8]

2012 - American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, Washington, DC

2010 - Addison/Ripley Gallery, Washington, DC

2009 - Granary Gallery, West Tisbury, Massachusetts

2008 - The City Gallery at Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC

2008 - Prada Gallery, Washington, D.C.

2007 - Washington Printmakers Gallery, Washington, D.C.

2007 - African American Museum, Dallas, Texas

2007 - Howard University, Washington, D.C.

2004 - Strathmore Hall Arts Center, Bethesda, Maryland

2004 - Harmony Hall Regional Center, Fort Washington, Maryland

2001 - Howard University, Washington, D.C.[6]

1998 - Noel Gallery, Charlotte, North Carolina

• Lou Stovall Workshop Website
• Lou Stovall Artist Website