Stephen White is a North Carolina painter born in Winston-Salem. He is a contemporary and American post-war painter who has created many pieces focused around a model named Marian. White was initially inspired by Marian to paint female figures. She left such an impression on him that White made a career for himself painting stylized figures based on Marian. Whether working on wood panels, boxes, or glass, White's work is distinct and recognizable. He uses the Byzantine technique of applying pure gold-leaf in sheets to his painted figures, creating the images that have become known as "Stephen's ladies."