Award-Winning Quilter Stephen Towns to Deliver Next DeLaney Dialogue Lecture On March 4, Towns will present an artist talk in Wilson Concert Hall while his works will play a central theme in a DeLaney Reading Club Breakfast held in the Staniar Gallery and Wilson Hall Room 2010.

By Brian Laubscher
February 26, 2025

Through a generous partnership with the Staniar Gallery and the Departments of History and Sociology and Anthropology, the DeLaney Center at Washington and Lee University is pleased to present a special DeLaney Dialogue and Reading Club Breakfast featuring award-winning quilter Stephen Towns on March 4. Both events are free and open to the public.

The Reading Club Breakfast will be held from 8-9 a.m. and will enable participants to see and discuss pieces from Towns’ exhibit “Stephen Towns: Loud as the Rolling Sea.” His fiber works delve into the quiet, contemplative moments to underscore the significance of Black American history and are currently on display in the Staniar Gallery. Attendees will view quilts from the exhibit while listening to audio clips of Towns discussing his work. Following this experience, the group will enjoy breakfast in Wilson Hall Room 2010 while reflecting on their impressions and the artist’s interests and thoughts.

The breakfast serves as an introduction to Towns’ meaningful works, which will be discussed during his artist talk held at 5:30 p.m. in the Wilson Concert Hall. The event will be followed by a reception held in the Lykes Atrium.

Born in Lincolnville, South Carolina, Towns trained as a painter, developing a rigorous self-taught quilting practice. He earned a BFA in studio art at the University of South Carolina and currently lives and works in Baltimore. His first museum exhibition, “Stephen Towns: Rumination and a Reckoning,” premiered at the Baltimore Museum of Art in 2018.

Towns’ multimedia work examines the historical narratives of Black Americans, focusing on the daily tasks of the “everyman” and prompting viewers to contemplate individuals whose work and existence may have been forgotten. By asking “What is American history?,” Towns encourages reflection on overlooked people and contributions.

Towns’ work has been featured in numerous publications, such as The New York Times, Artforum, the Washington Post, Hyperallergic, Cultured, Forbes, AFROPUNK and American Craft. His work is included in the permanent collections of many institutions including the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Boise Museum of Art, the Flint Institute of Arts, the Rockwell Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Portrait Gallery.

The Delaney Dialogue series was created to engage audiences in conversation about regionally resonant themes, allowing for open discourse and learning opportunities. Exhibiting innovative strategies for teaching and researching Southern racial realities, these programs allow faculty and other interested participants to imagine how this protean region fits into broader professional and public possibilities.

The DeLaney Center is an interdisciplinary academic forum that promotes teaching and research on race and Southern identity. Visit the DeLaney Center website for updates on further DeLaney Dialogues, film screenings and other programming.