Stephen Herring, Poet

African American Poetry and Art

Stephen is a retired Army officer, national & international museum aficionado, poetry enthusiast, published poet, and Arlington Transit Moving Words award winner. He has a master’s in museum studies from Johns Hopkins and a Masters in English Literature from Northeastern University. Stephen is a former US Military Academy English instructor. At West Point, he advised the African American Literature Club. He has taught over 300 students in small, specialized classes, and has a deep knowledge of contemporary African American artists (e.g. Amy Sherald, Simone Leigh, Kara Walker, and Raymond Saunders) and Harlem Renaissance literature. In his tours, he combines poetry workshop facilitation with guided museum tours— attendees don’t just view art; they create alongside it!

Tour Approach

Poetry meets visual art: explore contemporary African American artists at DC museums, write poetry inspired by the artwork, view more pieces, then return to your writing with fresh perspective. Stephen uses Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool” as a starting point, then guides visitors through their own creative responses. Tours focus on identity, artistic discovery, and the connection between visual and written expression. Currently featuring Photography and the Black Arts Movement exhibit at National Gallery, with special attention to artists like Raymond Saunders whose work “sent me into a Jean-Michel Basquiat moment.” This is a 90-minute experiential session for 2-4 people that balance learning, creating, and discovering.

Museums + DMV

The Hirshorn Museum is another Smithsonian gem, inviting visitors to share the “transformative powers” of modern and contemporary art and culture: Its core philosophy is Art, Ideas, People. Now Featuring Jean-Michele Basquiat and many African American artists to explore.
National Gallery is part of the Smithsonian Institute and provides opportunities to see and learn about a wide range of art. The museum helps visitors understand different perspectives and connect with the human spirit across time.