Hammonds House Museum presents a dual exhibition by Steve R. Allen: Infinite Inheritance: Afrofuturism, Sacred Geometry and Ancestral Imagination and O Jogo Bonito (The Beautiful Game) opening now through Aug. 23
Hammonds House Museum is excited to present a powerful dual exhibition by artist Steve R. Allen. The exhibition explores multiple themes including Black identity and spirituality. The first look at the artwork will be on Friday, June 26 from 6:30-9 PM. The exhibition runs through August 23, 2026. To secure your tickets for opening night click HERE.
Infinite Inheritance: Afrofuturism, Sacred Geometry, and the Ancestral Imagination of Steve R. Allen and O Jogo Bonito (The Beautiful Game): works by Steve R. Allen together present an expansive exploration of Black identity, spirituality, excellence, and cultural continuity through the artist’s distinct “Fractal Afro Futuristic” visual language. Across both exhibitions, Allen examines the intersections of mathematics, ancestral knowledge, athletics, memory, and imagination, creating richly layered compositions that move fluidly between history, spirituality, and visions of Black futures.
Through intricate patterns, repeating forms, symbolic color systems, and metallic surfaces of gold, copper, and silver, Allen constructs visual environments rooted in transformation, interconnectedness, and elevation. Sacred geometry and coded symbolism operate as pathways
to deeper narratives surrounding Black cultural memory and the enduring grandeur of Black life beyond imposed historical limitations.
At the same time, O Jogo Bonito (The Beautiful Game) celebrates Black visibility and achievement through imagery inspired by international athletics, including the Olympics and the World Cup. Sport becomes a metaphor for resilience, discipline, collective power, and infinite possibility. These themes are deeply connected to Allen’s own artistic journey, having become the official artist for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games only a few years after beginning his painting practice.
Together, these exhibitions invite viewers to reflect on legacy, spiritual connection, creative evolution, and the continued reimagining of Black futures across generations.
Artist Statement. My work is driven by an exploration of how simplicity evolves into complexity. Through painting, I investigate the mathematical structures, rhythms, and patterns that shape both the natural world and human experience. I am deeply interested in the ways repetition, geometry, and symbolism reveal hidden systems of connection, movement, and energy.
Working primarily with acrylic paint and metal leaf — including gold, copper, and silver — I create layered compositions in what I describe as a “Fractal Afro Futuristic” visual language. My practice bridges ancestral knowledge, spirituality, contemporary Black identity, and speculative futures. Repeating forms, coded symbols, and intricate patterns function as pathways between memory, imagination, and transformation.
For me, painting is both a creative and spiritual process. Through these works, I seek to honor the wisdom of the Ancestors, connect with the Creator, and envision expansive possibilities for Black existence across time and space.
Artist Bio. Steve R. Allen was born in North Carolina in a one-room home and initially pursued a path far removed from the art world. While studying electrical engineering, Allen’s creative interests were largely limited to sketching, and he originally envisioned a career in government service working with agencies such as the IRS or the VA. However, life ultimately redirected his path, and after resigning from his job at the age of 38, Allen unexpectedly began what would become an internationally recognized artistic career.
Known for his bold use of color and remarkable versatility across styles, Allen has developed a distinct visual language rooted in spirituality, movement, and cultural consciousness. His work has been exhibited and collected internationally, appearing in prestigious collections and world capitals from Athens, Greece, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Beijing, China. Allen also served as an official artist for the U.S. Olympic Committee, with his work appearing in connection with eight Olympic Games worldwide.
Curatorial Statement for Infinite Inheritance: Afrofuturism, Sacred Geometry and Ancestral Imagination by Lydia Kimbrough. This exhibition explores the elevation of Black identity through visual language rooted in memory, spirituality, mathematics, and cultural consciousness. Through intricate compositions, symbolic patterning, and vibrant color
relationships, the work reflects an ongoing exploration of who we are, where we come from, and the possibilities that exist when we reconnect with ourselves beyond imposed narratives and historical limitations.
Drawing from a “Fractal Afro Futuristic” visual framework, the artist merges simplicity and complexity to examine the structures, rhythms, and patterns that shape both the natural world and Black cultural experience. Repeating forms, layered symbols, circles, and coded color systems function as visual languages within the work — patterns within patterns — each carrying spiritual, ancestral, and conceptual meaning. Metallic surfaces of gold, copper, and silver further reinforce ideas of value.
Curatorial Statement for O Jogo Bonito (The Beautiful Game) by Tisha Smith. This exhibition celebrates Black presence, excellence, and cultural continuity through imagery inspired by athletics, movement, and collective achievement. Referencing global stages such as the Olympics and the World Cup, the work reflects on the visibility and the impact of Black bodies within spaces of competition, performance, and international recognition. At its core, the exhibition becomes an exploration of infinity — of origin, endurance, creativity, and the evolution of Black identity across time and space.
The exhibition also reflects a deeply personal artistic journey. Having begun painting only a few years before becoming the official artist for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, the artist’s trajectory mirrors the themes embedded throughout the work: growth, transformation, vision, and belief in boundless potential. Through these paintings, sport becomes more than competition; it becomes a metaphor for endurance, excellence, spirituality, and the reimagining of Black futures.
Hammonds House Museum is a 501(c)3 arts organization whose mission is to celebrate and share the cultural diversity and legacy of artists of African descent. The home is the former residence of the late Dr. Otis Thrash Hammonds, a prominent Atlanta physician and passionate arts patron. The museum is in a beautiful Victorian home, with a gorgeous John Rhoden Sculpture Garden on the grounds, and is located at 503 Peeples Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30310.
Hammonds House Museum’s 2026 exhibitions include artist talks, and civic engagement activities which serve as opportunities for the community to have a deeper experience with the artworks. For information about upcoming events, to join the mailing list, become a member, or plan your visit, go to the website: hammondshousemuseum.org.
Hammonds House Museum is generously supported by Fulton County Board of Commissioners through the Fulton County Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, National Performance Network, Georgia Council for the Arts, The Estate of Dr. Doris Derby, and their newest sponsor The Ruth Foundation for the Arts (Ruth Arts), as well as donors and members.
