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In Vivid Reliquaries, Stan Squirewell Layers Anonymous Portraits and Patterned Textiles

01 Apr, 2025

This post was originally published on Colossal

Through intimate, mixed-media collages, Stan Squirewell excavates the stories of those who might otherwise be lost in anonymity. The artist gathers images from the Smithsonian’s archives and from friends and family that he then reinterprets with vibrant prints and patterns. Layering unknown pasts with present-day additions, Squirewell explores how everyday traditions and rituals remain through generations.

His new body of work, Robitussin, Hotcombs & Grease, invokes ubiquitous items like the over-the-counter decongestant and hair care. “Growing up, I was shaped by elders around me, and everyday objects like Robitussin, hotcombs, and grease became vessels for the rituals that anchored me to my heritage,” the artist says. “These items transcend their mundane uses: they embody traditions passed down through generations, grounding me in a collective identity.”

a collage of black and white photos and colorful textiles in a carved wooden frame. the photo depicts two little girls
“Girls on Saturn” (2025)

Squirewell cuts and collages images and fabrics from his collection before photographing the composition, which then undergoes a digital editing process. An elaborate frame complements each piece with charred shou sugi ban edges—a Japanese burning technique—and hand-carved details. The sides bear various inscriptions connecting past and present, including lines from Langston Hughes’ poems and glyphs from ancestral African languages that have fallen out of use.

Because the identities and histories of many of the subjects are unknown, Squirewell’s work adds a new relevance to their images. How have daily, domestic practices and the legacies of previous generations informed the present? And how do these traditions create a broader collective experience? Rooted in these questions, the dignified works become reliquaries that honor what’s been passed down and how that continues to inform life today.

Robitussin, Hotcombs & Grease is on view through May 24 at Claire Oliver Gallery in Harlem. Find more from Squirewell on Instagram.

a collage of black and white photos and colorful textiles in a carved wooden frame. the photo depicts a young boy
“Teddy” (2024), artist-printed photos collaged with paint and glitter in a hand-carved shou sugi ban frame, 43 x 35 x 3 inches
a collage of black and white photos and colorful textiles in a carved wooden frame. the photo depicts a little girl
a collage of black and white photos and colorful textiles in a carved wooden frame. the photo depicts a woman
a collage of black and white photos and colorful textiles in a carved wooden frame. the photo depicts a woman in a full skirt
a collage of black and white photos and colorful textiles in a carved wooden frame. the photo depicts a mother and daughter
a side view of a collage of black and white photos and colorful textiles in a carved wooden frame. the photo depicts two small children
“Teddy’s Lil Sisters” (2024), artist-printed photos collaged with paint and glitter in a hand-carved shou sugi ban frame, 29 x 24 x 2 inches
a collage of black and white photos and colorful textiles in a carved wooden frame. the photo depicts two little girls
“Girls on Saturn” (2025)

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article In Vivid Reliquaries, Stan Squirewell Layers Anonymous Portraits and Patterned Textiles appeared first on Colossal.

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