Veterans Art Gallery
Creative Expression Shaped by Military Service
Contrast, Form and Value:
Contemporary Impressionistic Realism Works of Stephen A. Roberson
NOW OPEN
Stephen A. Roberson, MBA, CPA, ASAA, is a Virginia-based painter whose work is deeply informed by his experience as a United States Marine Corps aviator and his lifelong fascination with flight.
A native Virginian, Stephen’s early dream of becoming a pilot led him to earn his commission as a Marine Corps officer. Ultimately, he earned the “Wings of Gold,” the prestigious insignia awarded to U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel upon qualifying as a Naval Aviator. While in the service, he flew a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter, gaining firsthand experience in both rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft during naval aviation training. These experiences in the air – seeing the world from altitude, witnessing light and atmosphere from above, and participating in the demanding discipline of military aviation – profoundly shaped the way he approaches painting.
Stephen’s artwork reflects a deep appreciation for aviation history, maritime culture, and the natural world. While aviation remains a central theme in his work, his paintings also explore landscapes, seascapes, figurative subjects, and portraiture. His style is best described as representational impressionism, as he draws inspiration from the techniques of the Old Masters while emphasizing strong composition, atmosphere, and the expressive qualities of oil paint.
Stephen’s paintings have been exhibited nationally and are included in private collections as well as institutional collections, such as those of the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida; the Coast Guard Art Program; the Coast Guard Historical Society; and the United States Capitol. Stephen is also an Artist Fellow with the American Society of Aviation Artists and a member of both the National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society and Oil Painters of America.
In addition to his work as a painter, Stephen serves as director of finance and administration for a private school foundation in Northern Virginia. Balancing a professional career in finance with a lifelong dedication to art, he continues to create paintings that reflect both his personal experiences and his admiration for those who serve in aviation and maritime professions.
Stephen lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife and two children.
We are pleased to be able to offer regular exhibitions of Veterans Art in the C. Kenneth Wright Pavilion. This space is a natural extension of our efforts to provide veterans a safe place, free from judgment and convention, to tell their stories in their own words and images.
Visiting the Veterans Art Gallery is free and the space is open during museum hours.
