Willie Stewart, True Faith, 2021; Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Print

Willie Stewart’s multimedia works combine painting, drawing, and sculpture to examine and to classify time, memory, absence, and melancholy in relation to American visual culture. In his material-based process, the artist glues together painted and drawn layers—each depicting imagery of both personal and cultural significance—to alter the dimensionality of the picture plane. Rooted in the Symbolist notion of metaphorical and subliminal transcendence, Stewart’s practice embraces nostalgia and sentimentality. Based in New Haven, he has presented one and two-person exhibitions at venues such as Nicelle Beauchene Gallery, Morán Morán, and Pioneer Works. 

True Faith takes inspiration from the nested colors in Josef Albers’s Homage to the Square paintings, as well as New Order’s 1987 song of the same name. Stewart’s work sets a collision of imagery, borrowed from New Order as well as Yoko Ono and Patrick Caulfield, atop a geometric configuration of brick or cinder blocks. The resulting image represents both the seeing and remembrance of a moment, and particularly evokes a part in the titular song during which Bernard Sumner sings, “I used to think that the day would never come.” 

Of this limited edition, Stewart muses, “It is an honor to work with Art For Change to raise funds to benefit Performance Space, The Kitchen, Printed Matter, Abrons, and NADA. These organizations have been paramount in introducing art on such a meaningful and beneficial wavelength for so many artists. I am excited to give back whatever I can to these organizations, as a thank you for all that they have done for art both mentally and physically.”

This limited edition is part of ART FOR CHANGE’s Spring 2021 virtual benefit exhibition, Love to New York City, which supports artists and five New York City arts organizations––The Kitchen, Performance Space, Printed Matter, Abrons Art Center, and NADA’s new nonprofit. Of the total net proceeds of prints sold from this series, 50% will directly benefit the participating artists, and 20% will benefit the organizations.