CHAPTER 1, The Mind in Chaos Meets the God of Clarity
“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” ― St. Thomas Aquinas
Mindy Solomon is pleased to exhibit the work of Amani Lewis. In their first exhibition in the gallery, Amani introduces a body of work that speaks to their deep and abiding faith, coming from a place of hardship and ultimately spiritual and creative triumph.
In their own words: “This year has been filled with different types of challenges that has left me to feel lost in my body; as if I am drowning, disoriented, uncentered, uncertain and broken. It has made it hard to exist in one’s space comfortably. When thinking about the fragility in one’s existence, purpose, and life, I started to feel insecure in my goals for myself; questioning if I am following the correct path. The stress of creating and keeping legacy is something that has become a heavy load, but an endurance that can’t be left behind. With questions such as: ‘What if I fail?’ Or ‘What if people forget about me and my contributions?’ floating around in my mind, I started to become numb.”
Reeling from unprecedented growth in the art world, including astronomical results in the auctions, museum acquisitions and sold-out shows, Lewis rode a wave of fame that overwhelmed them. The sudden retreat of the frenzied buying and ultimately selling of works in the post COVID period left them feeling confused and uncertain. “… in the midst of the storm, came a revelation that I serve a God that has always protected, provided for, and continuously blessed me. This body of work is one of the first thematic pieces that reflects my own current insecurities and personal obstacles, but with the lenses of the scriptures that held me up during hard times. It’s my way of becoming vulnerable in my practice with my supporters as I move towards the next phase in my life and in my career. You will see a lot of religious iconography, as it is my sword and shield. Within each painting are hands that pray over, lift up, sanctify and protect the figures in each piece.”
In Stretch Out My Hands: A Hymn For My Father, 2024 we see the image of a face looking heavenward with outstretched arms around it. The warm tones emanate an otherworldly celestial glow and a moment of profound connection. “Typically, when people see my work, they know that the figures in each composition are either a relative, friend or a loved one and that their presence is somehow a part of the meaning of the work. In this series, though, the figures represent characters in a story. Found images that have been mixed in and layered with other images of angels, prophets, spirits and light energy. The real purpose of each painting is to evoke the emotional state of chaos I have been feeling over the last 18 months but accompanied with images/feelings of a newfound clarity.”
The exhibition will feature a body of work that is all part of one cohesive tale—a narrative about redemption, vulnerability and strength. Drawing from real world experience, Lewis has found true joy in building a fresh and original story, and for new and old fans of their paintings, this is truly an opportunity to rejoice.
About Amani Lewis
Born in Washington D.C., in 1994, Amani Lewis is known for their distinctively elaborate portraits, which o!en depict individuals from the artist’s social and creative circles through manipulation of photographic imagery. After graduating from the Maryland Institute College of Art, the artist now splits their time between Baltimore and Miami, where they live and work. Capturing the multifaceted faces of city life amid the tangle of nature, Lewis’ portraits exist to chronicle how the people in Lewis’ life have shaped their world and contributed to their growth and learnings. In doing so, they subvert ingrained preconceptions and champion empowered representations of significant figures in their life.
Lewis received a BFA in General Fine Arts and Illustration from MICA in 2016. Recent notable exhibitions include solo shows, opened with Salon94 in New York, New York ‘Nothing Remains the Same,’ 2021 and LGDR Paris, FR ‘IT’S FROM THE LIGHT THAT WE ARE FOUND, BLESSED, AND GUIDED’ in 2022. Amani Lewis: Subjective Nature, August Wilson African American Cultural Center (Pittsburgh, PA. 2019), and group exhibitions, Black Voices / Black Microcosm. CF Hill, (Stockholm, Sweden, 2020)., BLACK VOICES: Friend of Mine. Ross- Su”on Gallery, (New York, NY, 2021), and Shattered Glass. Jeffrey Deitch, (Los Angeles, CA, 2021). Lewis has work in notable collections such as Chicago Booth London, University of Chicago, London, UK; Perez Art Museum Miami, Miami, FL; Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, FL; De la Cruz Collection, Miami, FL; The Norton Museum, West Palm Beach, FL; The Bunker Art-space, West Palm Beach, FL; Speed Museum, Louisville, KT; Westmoreland Museum, Pittsburgh, PA; and The Broad Museum, Los Angeles, CA.
