James Stephen Terrell: Take Me to the Water

CHAIRMEN’S GALLERY, MAIN LEVEL

In his vibrant and intricate collages, James Stephen Terrell creates layered visual universes. Terrell imagines his collages as portals that “propel the viewer to an otherworldly, ethereal, heavenly, magical, mystical, and supernatural existence.” These complex geometric compositions invite viewers to look, and look again, focusing once on the figures depicted, and then on the patterns that form the foundation of the depiction.

Terrell builds his compositions with fabric and paper collage materials featuring their own complex compositions, patterns, and meanings. The artist’s collages are multilayered, with the collage elements functioning both as patterns and as aspects of the image. The artist uses the volume and form of the patterns in the collage material to build the forms of his own compositions, adding additional layers of visual complexity.

Terrell’s work is informed by his interest in art history, as well as the visual language of stained glass windows and patterns from the Black quilting tradition. He is interested in Josef Albers’ experiments with color, Bridget Riley’s optical art paintings, and Romare Bearden’s iconic use of collage to depict Black life. The elegant style of Terrell’s figures, including bold headwear and dapper menswear, takes inspiration from his community, and specifically his parents’ approach to fashion.

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.

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.

Related Programs
Art After Hours
Saturday / February 21 / 5pm-8pm

Artist Talk: James Stephen Terrell
Saturday / April 18 / 3:30pm-4:30pm