For more than half a century, master printer and artist Lou Stovall was a central figure in the Washington, D.C. art scene, known for his collaborations with leading artists including Jacob Lawrence, Sam Gilliam, and Lois Mailou Jones. In 1968, he founded Workshop, Inc., a print studio that became a vital site of artistic exchange and production. Later relocated to a converted garage behind his home in the Cleveland Park neighborhood, the studio remained a hub for innovation and collaboration. As a master printer, Stovall worked closely with artists to produce prints that remained faithful to their vision while expanding the technical possibilities of silkscreen.

Born in Athens, GA and raised in Springfield, MA, Stovall began learning the silkscreen process at the age of fifteen while working as a grocery store clerk. He continued to develop his skills independently and, in 1962, moved to Washington, D.C. to attend Howard University. There, he studied under influential artists and educators, including James A. Porter, James Lesesne Wells, Lois Mailou Jones, and David Driskell. While a student, he worked at Botkin Sign Shop and produced his own prints in the evenings, refining both his technical and artistic approach.

Through his connections with activists such as Stokely Carmichael, Stovall began producing silkscreen posters for civil rights demonstrations, many of which were distributed throughout the South in support of the movement. This early work laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to printmaking as both an artistic and a social practice.

Stovall established Workshop, Inc. in downtown Washington, D.C., alongside musician Lloyd McNeill and artist Di Bagley Stovall. The studio’s central location fostered an environment of collaboration, education, and experimentation, allowing Stovall to take on larger commissions and mentor emerging artists. In 1969, he was invited to operate the experimental annex of the Corcoran School of Art, located in the former Washington Gallery of Modern Art near Dupont Circle, where he worked alongside artists associated with the Washington Color School.

As his practice evolved from producing community posters to creating limited-edition fine art prints, Stovall developed innovative silkscreen techniques, particularly in color blending and layering. These technical advancements became a hallmark of his work and informed his collaborations with a wide range of artists, including Elizabeth Catlett, Robert Mangold, and others.

Stovall’s career reflects a rare synthesis of craftsmanship, collaboration, and community engagement. Through Workshop, Inc. and his own artistic production, he helped to shape the language of contemporary printmaking while fostering a spirit of collective creativity that remains central to his legacy.

REF: Lou Stovall and the Community Poster

Lou Stovall

(1937-2023)