-Nelson Stevens

Nelson Stevens (1938-2022) was a visionary artist, educator, and founding member of AfriCOBRA (the African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists), a collective formed in Chicago in 1968 dedicated to creating a Black aesthetic that empowered the African-American community. Through bold, vibrant works, Stevens and AfriCOBRA sought to reflect the beauty and pride of Blackness back to the viewer. After earning degrees from The Ohio University and Kent State University, Stevens joined the faculty at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1972, where he taught until 2003. During the 1970s and 80s, he created a mural initiative in Springfield, Massachusetts, producing over 30 vibrant public artworks with his students.

Stevens’ work celebrated the dignity, power, and beauty of Black life and was featured in prominent institutions like the BROAD in Los Angeles, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the Portland Art Museum, and many others. His works were also featured abroad at the Tate Modern in London, the Venice Biennale, and at FESTAC in Lagos, Nigeria. His art remains part of several major museum collections including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Following his passing in July 2022, the Nelson Stevens Legacy Project was established to preserve and extend his impact through exhibitions, public art, and education, inspiring a new generation of artists of color to continue his mission of cultural uplift through art.