THE WONDERFUL WORLD
OF STEPHEN WARDE ANDERSON
FEB 12–MAY 30, 2016
Sponsored by Community Foundation of Northern Illinois and Joan Stonecipher

The Wonderful World of Stephen Warde Anderson explores the vivid imagination and artistic genius of this accomplished outsider artist and Rockford native whose stylized paintings are inspired by beautiful fantasies of figures throughout history and mythology, film and literature, as well as subjects and stories culled from his own genealogical research. Also featured in this 15-week exhibition is the 2014 short film Fantasy Tableau by award-winning documentary Kate Balsley who explores his "marvelously eccentric" life and art. Related education programs include a free lecture by Anderson on Thursday, March 24, at 7 p.m. Concurrent exhibits at RAM include the landmark 75th Young Artist Show (opens March 6). 

Anderson's work is not only included in the permanent collection of Rockford Art Museum but also the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C., American Folk Art Museum in New York, Roger Brown Study Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Freeport Art Museum. He is currently represented by Tory Folliard Gallery in Milwaukee.

Organized by Rockford Art Museum and curated by RAM Curator Carrie Johnson, The Wonderful World of Stephen Warde Anderson and related educational programming are sponsored bya grant from the Community Arts & Humanities Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois; sponsored by Joan Stonecipher; and partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and by the Armer Ahlstrand Charitable Foundation. All RAM education programs are supported in part by Women's Art Board of Rockford Art Museum.