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As a young girl, Renee Stout became intrigued by art when during a visit to the museum she encountered Nkisi art. Stout believes without studying African spiritual practices, understanding African culture is incomplete. Throughout her body of work Stout creates items that resemble relics that might be used in Voodoo. Stout also created a fictional character, Fatima Mayfield, to embody the qualities of the voodoo priestess. By using painting, photography, mixed-media and installation, she deals with issues like self-examination, self-empowerment, and self-healing, Stout is able to delve into topics that concern the general population.