Redeemed

PHYLLIS STEPHENS (B. 1955)

Redeemed

signed 'Stephens' (lower right)

quilted printed fabric, polyester flowers, plastic, metal and rhinestones

88 x 52 inches (223.5 x 132.1 cm)

framed: 92 1/2 x 56 1/2 inches (235 x 143.5 cm)

Executed in 2021.

PROVENANCE:

Almine Rech, New York

Acquired from the above by the present owner, 2021

NOTES:

Born in 1955, Phyllis Stephens is a celebrated fifth-generation quilt maker, whose practice continues and evolves a rich tradition of African-American story quilting. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Stephens has spent over three decades crafting intricate textile works that narrate personal, communal, and historical experiences. Her quilts have been featured in prestigious institutions such as The National Quilt Museum in Kentucky and the National Museum of Ghana, and have attracted an impressive roster of collectors including Oprah Winfrey, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Samuel L. and LaTanya Jackson, Denzel and Paulette Washington, and Aretha Franklin. In 2010, Stephens was honored by the Georgia House of Representatives for her print portfolio made in tribute to the Children of the Civil Rights Movement, For Crying Out Loud. 

In Redeemed, Stephens presents a powerful and emotive image of a woman in luminous blue, poised at the center of the composition. The figure tilts slightly toward the viewer with her hands raised to frame her head. Her hair, adorned with found baubles and rhinestones, catches the light and adds a celebratory quality to the work. Set against a lush, almost dreamlike field, the figure seems to embody a state of spiritual well-being and renewal. The vibrant colors, meticulous stitching, and embellishments all work together to evoke a feeling of resilience and hope. For Stephens, “the long process [of quilt making] allows [her] time to travel to some of the sweetest places in [her] memories.” Redeemed is not just a portrait, but a tapestry of emotional and historical layers for Stephens that invites the viewer into a vibrant and lively space.