Windows GR

    Window GR exhibit introduction

    No longer on display, Windows GR featured three large-scale plywood art pieces created by local artists of color. 

    The Museum purchased the three paintings from artists: Jalexia Stoutmyre, DeVante Barnes and Guillermo Sotelo, that were created specifically for the Windows GR Project. Windows GR is a public activation project, led by artists of color, that was created to highlight black voices and stories in response to the death of George Floyd, police brutality and systematic racism. Many artists worked collaboratively to paint the boarded up windows of businesses throughout downtown Grand Rapids over the summer of 2020. 

    These pieces of artwork, along with additional works, are now a permanent part of the GRPM Collections. 

    Artist Bios. 

    Jalexia Stoutmyre 

    Jalexia is a multimedia artist from the pink house on Hall and Eastern, Grand Rapids. She loves creating in mediums ranging from acrylic on canvas to apple pen on tablet. Just kidding, she can’t afford an apple pen, but you get it. Most of her professional background is in UI and graphic design, where she combines her tech savvy skills with illustration expertise.

    Outside of her professional work she designs logos, animates, and films music videos, commercials, and short films. So, a wee bit of everything. Her ultimate passion is filmmaking and hopes her paintings become props in her major motion pictures.

    Guillermo Sotelo

    Guillermo ‘ASMA SPEEKS’ Sotelo is a Grand Rapids native artist and graffiti writer, practicing the craft for over a decade. Combining his love for hip hop, science fiction, comic books and other notable nerd-isms he has taught himself how to ‘SPEEK’ through art and graffiti. Graffiti being a uniquely urban language understood by few and spoken by fewer, Guillermo seeks to use his passion for the art form to expand people’s understanding and remove the stigma surrounding the history and culture while simultaneously championing for more public spaces for artists to express themselves.

    DeVante Barnes

    DeVante Barnes is a visual and musical artist from Grand Rapids.