34th Annual African Festival of the Arts Featured Artiust brings acclaimed "Urban Warriors" series to Chicago

Stuart McClean, AFA 2023 Featured Artist with wife Denise. Photo provided by AIHUI. (African International House USA, Inc.)
Stuart McClean, AFA 2023 Featured Artist with wife Denise. Photo provided by AIHUI. (African International House USA, Inc.)

 STUART McClean

34th Annual African Festival of the Arts Featured Artiust brings acclaimed "Urban Warriors" series to Chicago

There is something special about Stuart McClean's "Urban Warrior" series that moved him to admit, "It's amazing!" With child-like zeal, McClean, the featured artist for the 34th Annual African Festival of the Arts held Labor Day Weekend in Washington Park, sprang from his
chair during our ZOOM conversation to point out the exquisite detail he gave to the sneakers worn by a Breakdancer depicted in the large-scale painting that loomed behind him as a background image.

"It like a 3-D effect," said Stuart, who was inspired to create the series by the vibrancy, and Africaness of HipHop culture. "The fusion of their clothing, jewelry, and style emulates their African heritage, and I aim to bring that connection forward."

The "Urban Warrior" collection is now in high demand by gallerists from coast-to-coast. But Stuart says clients attending his "favorite festival"- the African Festival of the Arts in Chicago - will have first access to the series based upon his love for the Festival and high regard for his Chicago collectors. Early supporters Peggy Sutton, the founder of Mayfair Dance Academy, hosted his premier Chicago exhibitions, and both Reverend Jerimiah Wright, Pastor Emeritus,
Trinity United Church of Christ, and Rev. Jesse Hawkins, Pastor, Cathedral of Grace, Aurora,remain substantial collectors of his work.

Born in Trinidad & Tobago, which is, considered the fashion center of the Caribbean, Stjuart was headed for a fashion design career. His "art-preneur" spirit had him pivot to leather crafts to meet the demand for Carnival dance shoes. He later found his way to New York
City's Fashion Institute of Technology, which didn't offer his desired quick ROI. McClean returned to leather crafts and created a lucrative high-profile leather business that attracted the attention of Patricia Field, Costume Designer for the hit TV show Sex in the City, who used his belts on the show.

It appeared his career was set, but a bleach mark on a favorite linen shirt changed his destiny. While using acrylic paint to cover the bleached-out area, he reignited his passion for painting.
At that moment, Stuart McClean launched his career as a visual artist doing one-of-a-kind original "abstract figuratism" works on canvas.

A Festival legacy art vendor for over 25 years, McClean says, "As long as I am alive, I will be at the African Festival of the Arts because of the love I receive from patrons and AIH, the money I make, and the people that I meet from all regions of the African Diaspora" HIs
original painting done for the festival will be displayed in the Festival's Fine Art Pavilion for all to enjoy. For more information about Stuart McClean and the Festival, visit www.aihusa.org

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