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Figurative Summer Spotlight: Amani Lewis
August 20 - 27, 2020
Amani Lewis' works aim to shift the dominant narrative of Baltimore to hold the people and the complexity of their stories at the forefront to deepen the subject’s perspective of themselves, their power and their relationship to the city.
By examining how Baltimore is depicted in the news, press, and across social media, they have deepened their understanding of how that city is perceived through an exterior lens. Lewis begins with found and original photography of quotidian life in Baltimore, and then layers on expressive contour lines, a process that shifts the viewer’s focus away from the reality of the lives and circumstances of the subjects. In creating a visual cacophony, Lewis compels the viewer to look closer, to hone in on distinct pockets of the canvas, and in the process, uncover aspects of the narrative that are seemingly—and perhaps willingly—overlooked.
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The work
Amani Lewis creates portraits of real people, people that they documented, photographed, but also sourced from the internet. Lewis photographs people, manipulates and layers the images digitally, prints them on canvas, then adds paint and other materials, such as textiles and glitter. Lewis is highly engaged and connected to their community and dedicated to telling the stories of the people who are apart of that community.
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“I am constantly challenging these perceptions, and digging into the root causes by asking questions such as: How have these issues been ignored over time? What can we do to change these realities?”
-Amani Lewis in regards to stereotypes around Blackness.
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"In my work, I draw viewers into my compositions, and aim to reveal a missing, but, vital element in these conversations: the people" - Amani Lewis
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"In painting, as in society, ignorance allows for the fabrication and consumption of a “pretty picture.” By examining how Baltimore is depicted in the news, press, and across social media, I have deepened my understanding of how this city is perceived through an exterior lens. I begin with found and original photography of quotidian life in Baltimore, and then layer on expressive contour lines, a process that shifts the viewer’s focus away from the reality of the lives and circumstances of my subjects. In creating a visual cacophony, I compel the viewer to look closer, to hone in on distinct pockets of the canvas, and in the process, uncover aspects of the narrative that are seemingly—and perhaps willingly—overlooked." -Amani Lewis
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"My work exists because these people exist. As the artist, it is important for me to meet the people that make up Baltimore and listen to their stories. My paintings and the resources I garner as an artist work towards shifting the dominant narrative of Baltimore to hold the people and the complexity of our stories at the forefront. I share twenty to fifty percent of the proceeds when a piece is collected with the subject and my collaborators. It is my goal to reimagine the mechanisms used by the media, a tool run by people who do not care to know the depth of our stories, to deepen my subjects perspective of themselves, their power and our relationship to the city. Each piece in the series begins with a photograph of a person. I then distort and saturate their image, modeling an aesthetic akin to a topographical map or heat map. As the artist, I reclaim the power the media wields to tell our stories for us. I manipulate and complexify images of an environment and people whose stories are manipulated and simplified by those who wield economic power over the landscape of the city. By layering paint and textures on top of the prints, my works become complex sites layered with vibrancy, life, heat, energy, growth, healing, safety, magic, and music. The end goal of this series is to gain and slowly begin redistributing the resources needed to shift the landscape of power and view of the city that make up Baltimore." - Amani Lewis
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Amani Lewis speaking on their work
Amani Lewis speaks on their work in this clip from our twelfth installment of Conversations on Culture featuring the artists in our group exhibition Figurative Summer .
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