Wyoming — Superhero fan and Wyoming Intermediate School Principal Steven Reynolds says being a professional artist is like having a secret identity.
He doesn’t actively promote the fact that he recently had five pieces in a legacy exhibit titled “Still Here: Artists Who Shape Grand Rapids” at AllArtWorks studio in Grand Rapids, which highlighted artists who have been creating art in the area for decades.
He doesn’t readily mention the fact that he has sold pieces, prints and posters through various galleries, or that he has sold pieces to Grand Valley State University and has had artwork inside the Varnum Building downtown; or that he created a mural covering three walls for nonprofit STEM Greenhouse’s classroom at Innovation Central High School in Grand Rapids Public Schools. See SNN story.
‘In my heart and my mind I try to allow what’s on the canvas to reveal itself, and whatever that is, is what it is.’
— Principal and artist Steven Reynolds
He never even said anything about art when interviewed in a SNN Meet Your Administrators story in 2024.
Instead, from his desk at the fifth- and sixth-grade school, he described his artistic side as like KAL-EL, Superman’s identity on the planet Krypton, to Clark Kent, his Earthly administrator persona. Being an artist is an authentic part of him that comes to life when he stands in front of an easel — but he shifts gears during his day job.
“This is my primary focus, and I want to do really well for the intermediate school,” he said. “(AllArtWorks) is my first exhibition in quite a long time, just because my job keeps me focused.”
Reynolds has been creating art since he was a child, he said, when he loved to draw comics and characters.
“I’m self-taught. I just enjoy creating and have for most of my life.”
Reynolds’ work is eclectic, ranging from abstract geometric to hyper realism, he said. He uses acrylic on canvas and graphite on paper, creating his pieces at his home.
“As an artist, the guidance I have received is you have to find your style, your niche, your aesthetic, and hone in on that — but I never have. In my heart and my mind I try to allow what’s on the canvas to reveal itself, and whatever that is, is what it is.”
He said he is inspired by music, books and his other interests — a big one is comic books. An example is a self portrait he made in front of a mirror to which he added a Spider-Man costume up to his neckline, as if he had removed his mask.
One of the pieces featured in the recent exhibit, “Mother Box” is based on a DC Comics concept, and has the theme of connecting across humanity.
“In DC mythology there is a device they use called the Mother Box, and it’s akin to a cell phone, to speak in layman’s terms,” he said. “It’s like a cell phone you can use intergalactically and across dimensions and time and space. You can use it to communicate and to transport yourself.”
Reynold said his biggest influence is his uncle, Lowell Reynolds, a longtime artist and military veteran, whose work was also featured in the AllArtWorks exhibit.
STEM Greenhouse founder and Executive Director Keli Christopher said Reynold’s work creates an Afrofuturistic environment for her STEM students at Innovation Central.
“I desired a space where they could learn and create community that celebrated diverse cultures,” Christopher said. “Mr. Reynolds did an excellent job infusing innovative and inspirational energy into these classrooms.”
Reynolds said that while he only visits fifth- and sixth-grade art classrooms as a pop-in guest, his advice to them and anyone who wants to be an artist is to keep at their craft.
“I advise other people to create every day so that their brain does not starve. Create every, every day,” he said.
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