Artist Talk: James Stephen Terrell

Join SOLOS 2026 artist James Stephen Terrell to discuss James Stephen Terrell: Take Me to the Water, his solo exhibition at MoCA Arlington.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

James Stephen Terrell: Take Me to the Water takes place as part of MoCA Arlington’s SOLOS 2026, part of the Museum’s long-running SOLOS exhibition program. Launched in 1988, SOLOS features solo exhibitions by artists based in the Mid-Atlantic region who are working at the forefront of contemporary art.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

James Stephen Terrell
Born 1976, Washington, DC
Based in Washington, DC

James Stephen Terrell is a painter and mixed media artist. He is a native Washingtonian who grew up in Ward 7. His parents are Rev. Dr. James E. Terrell, Pastor of historic Second Baptist Church of Washington DC. and Retired Superior Court Associate Judge Mary A. Terrell of the Superior Court of Washington DC. He received his high school diploma from Gonzaga College High School in Washington DC. He received the Bachelor of Fine Art from Howard University, Master of Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design in New York City and the Master of Divinity Degree from the Union Theological Seminary in New York City with a concentration in Theology and the Fine Arts. While attending Union Theological Seminary, he pursued Fine Arts painting elective courses at Columbia University.

Terrell’s work has been acquired by museums and is in many prominent private collections. In addition to winning numerous awards for his artwork, Terrell has exhibited his work across the United States and has had multiple solo shows at numerous galleries, art centers, and museums.