Lou Stovall

Remembering Lou Stovall (1937-2023)

The Phillips Collection expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Lou Stovall. In summer 2022, The Phillips Collection was honored to present the exhibition Lou Stovall: The Museum Workshop, curated by the artist’s son, Will Stovall. Stovall’s innovative techniques in printmaking elevated the medium to new artistic heights. His vibrant and empowering retrospective delighted audiences and showcased not only his dynamic artwork, but also his generative artistic relationships with his wife, Di Stovall, Sam Gilliam, Jacob Lawrence, and more.

Stovall’s influence on the DC arts scene was evident through his collaborations and in the history and legacy of the Dupont Center. Created and led by Stovall and curator Walter Hopps, the Center created a haven for artists of different cultures and generations. Stovall also made his mark on the political causes and cultural events of the 1960s and 70s through his silkscreened printed community posters. His posters are a reminder of the spirit and struggles of the Civil Rights Movement and DC’s fight for mayoral control of local affairs. Amid these challenges and a mounting hope for change, Stovall’s experimental silkscreen workshop at the Dupont Center was even more important as it created a space for the exchange and cross-fertilization of ideas and art-making.

It was a joy to work with Will, Lou, and Di, to celebrate Lou’s immense impact on the artistic community of Washington, DC, and beyond. He will be greatly missed.