Relief work is how Stephen began creating fine art pieces. The techniques

used in these pieces blend American craft techniques like quilting and

embroidery, with fashion fabrics, and three dimensional mounting techniques.

Each of these pieces starts with a background that is constructed out of

fabric and mounted to an art board. The backgrounds consist of diffe ent

types of fabrics that are often manipulated, painted or dyed. Once the fabric

is complete, it is stretched like a canvas and attached to the backboard.

The second layer of the relief works is the upper image. These are designed

separately and embroidered using fashion fabrics from Chanel, Hermés,

Oscar De La Renta, and more. Once the embroidery for the upper image

is fabricated, raised 3D mounts are created using laser-cut pieces of wood.

Each piece is then mounted onto the background using stainless steel

standoffs in varying heights. The upper image fabric pieces are then affix

to the mounts, creating a breathtaking, mosaic-like, 3D work of art. The

subject matter for these pieces varies from exploded butterflies, to flowers

to fashion icons, depending on the series to which they belong. The work in

this section has been featured in museum shows around the country.

The background is embroidered quilted fabric that is painted. The love letters are created with hundreds of embroidered flowers mounted in relief. 

70"x 59"