Will Henry Stevens

Untitled (Wild Flowers and Leaves), 1939

pastel on off-white paper

12 ¼ x 16 in.

Gift of Dr. Steven Conant in honor of Mrs. H. L. Conant and Miss Joan D. Weisenberger

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Indiana born Will Henry Stevens studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy and the Art Students League in New York City.  He moved to New Orleans, where he was a professor of art at Sophie Newcomb College, now part of Tulane University.  He painted both abstract and traditional works; most of work has its origins in nature.  It was easy for Stevens to translate the geometrical forms in nature into abstract compositions. Stevens was looking for a way to express spirituality through his art.  His work exhibited an awareness of modern art, both American and European combined with the knowledge of naturalism.  He incorporated both the grand vistas and the small details of nature in his art, sometimes combining natural forms with essentially abstract imagery.

Stevens’ paintings combined an awareness of modern art with the knowledge of a naturalist.  In this pastel he draws on nature to create a fanciful floral arrangement.  Stevens enjoyed blending natural forms with abstract shapes to create intricate designs and overlapping patterns.  Abstract artist Joseph Albers wrote to Sevens, “I am impressed with your sensitive musicality for color and your ability to handle a multitude of forms and to combine them in an organic whole.”

Reference

Estill Curtis Pennington.  Will Henry Stevens, 1881-1949: An eye transformed, a hand transforming, Augusta, GA: Morris Museum of Art, 1993.  ISBN-13: 978-0961827076

Will Henry Stevens

Untitled (Wild Flowers and Leaves), 1939

pastel on off-white paper

12 ¼ x 16 in.

Gift of Dr. Steven Conant in honor of Mrs. H.L. Conant and Miss Joan D. Weisenberger

Learn More

Indiana-born Will Henry Stevens studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy and the Art Students League in New York City.  He moved to New Orleans, where he was a professor of art at Sophie Newcomb College, now part of Tulane University.  He painted both abstract and traditional works, and most of his work has its origins in nature. Stevens’ paintings combined an awareness of modern art with the knowledge of a naturalist.  In this pastel he draws on nature to create a fanciful floral arrangement.  Stevens enjoyed blending natural forms with abstract shapes to create intricate designs and overlapping patterns.  Abstract artist Joseph Albers wrote to Sevens: “I am impressed with your sensitive musicality for color and your ability to handle a multitude of forms and to combine them in an organic whole.”

Reference

Estill Curtis Pennington.  Will Henry Stevens, 1881-1949: An Eye Transformed, a Hand Transforming, Augusta, Georgia: Morris Museum of Art, 1993.  ISBN-13: 978-0961827076