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Barbara Lewis (1925-2008)

  • barbara lewisBarbara Lewis (1925-2008) was a Chicago-based painter, photographer, and printmaker.   She studied at the Art Institute of Chicago (1943), University of Illinois at Chicago (1967-70), and the IIT Institute of Design (MFA in Printmaking, 1970-72).  Through her mixed-media compositions, Lewis explored Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art, often referring to urban imagery of Chicago.

    Barbara Lewis was born in 1925 and lived in the Chicago area for most of her life. She was a fine art painter, photographer, and printmaker. As an adolescent she first worked in watercolor, pastel, and oil paint depicting the extensive garden established by her parents. Her passion for art led her to study at the Art Institute of Chicago (1943), the University of Illinois at Chicago (1967-1970), and the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where she earned an MFA in printmaking in 1972.

    Lewis worked as the Curator of Prints at the Morton Arboretum Library in Lisle, Illinois (1965-67) and as a docent at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago before becoming assistant to the director of the Richard Gray Gallery.  She enjoyed the position from 1971-1993 while also maintaining her own studio in various Chicago locations, including the historic Tree Studios.  She was represented by the Jay Horwich Gallery and the Jan Cicero Gallery in Chicago, and participated in the Art Rental and Sales Gallery at the Art Institute of Chicago.   In April 1975, the Richard Gray Gallery received a Fernand Leger lithograph entitled "Jeune femme a face." To Lewis "it was a veritable explosion in my head and heart. Very simple, extremely powerful. Drawn on paper, it was transferred to stone and retained the texture of the lines on the paper, giving it a subtle tone. Each line was so poignant and so inevitable, with the expression of serene directness on the face so magnetic that everything else paled before it."  Lewis was deeply inspired by Leger and worked for years writing a body of work on the artist, in contact with collectors, museums, and galleries in the U.S. and France.  In the end she could not achieve an agreement among the parties involved that would result in a published work.

    Above all, Lewis enjoyed experimenting with new techniques and materials and found more joy in the process of creating art than in the end product itself. She had a strong big-picture vision of her trajectory as an artist, and was fearless in combining mediums, both embracing and celebrating the accidental in her work.  Lewis believed that a certain amount of turbulence and contrast was necessary to form a kinetic harmony in her work.  As a result, her oeuvre includes oil paintings, various printmaking techniques, and her own black and white photography.  Her father was a photographer, and Lewis was inspired to experiment with the medium in her own work.  She enjoyed the unpredictability of adding photo emulsion to her paintings, and they often add a mysterious, subtle texture to her mixed media pieces.  Lewis’ role at the Richard Gray Gallery kept her aware of and in contact with many well-known Abstract Expressionist and Pop artists of that period.

    The Lewis family, which included Barbara, her husband Eugene, and their daughter Sara, traveled extensively.  Barbara drew inspiration from their trips and painted scenes from Europe, Mexico, and Egypt.  In 1983, Lewis and Sara took a three week long cruise down the Nile River in Egypt.  This trip sparked Lewis’ ongoing fascination with Egypt and upon their return she began her first series of Egypt paintings, which would eventually exhibit at the Mendocino Art Center.  Her subjects ranged from timeless architectural images to the human form, with a combination of modern and ancient elements.  The juxtaposition of the themes reflected Barbara’s belief that artists have a responsibility to show the way things have changed and not simply reflect the world as it used to be.

    In 1992, Lewis moved to the West Coast on a large parcel of land with ocean views near Fort Bragg, Northern California. She lived in a beautiful Arts and Craft-style home and held a separate studio on the property.  Lewis began exhibiting her work at the Mendocino Art Center and also showed work at the Gallery on the Rim in San Francisco, the Fort Bragg Center for the Arts and other venues in Mendocino, Fort Bragg, and Eureka.  Despite the increasing burden of Parkinson’s Disease, Lewis continued creating art until her death in November 2008.

    Many thanks to Sara Moore, Barbara’s daughter, and Teri Robertson-Lewis for bringing Barbara’s collection and story to us.  This collection was acquired through the estate of artist Barbara Lewis, family friend of Michael and Alice Mason.
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<i>Green and Red with Yellow and Blue</i> <br>Mid Century Oil <br><br>#Z0003
Green and Red with Yellow and Blue
Mid Century Oil

#Z0003 Barbara Lewis $1,350
Sold
<i>Lisbon Station</i> <br>1971 Silkscreen <br><br>#B2134
Lisbon Station
1971 Silkscreen

#B2134 Barbara Lewis $895
Abstract Colorful Brush Strokes<br>1970s Watercolor<br><br>#B2095
Abstract Colorful Brush Strokes
1970s Watercolor

#B2095 Barbara Lewis $475
Sold
Men in Black Hats <br>20th Century Serigraph <br><br>#A0894
Men in Black Hats
20th Century Serigraph

#A0894 Barbara Lewis $1,275
Petit Monochromatic Linear Vignettes <br>1967 Ink <br><br>#96729
Petit Monochromatic Linear Vignettes
1967 Ink

#96729 Barbara Lewis $575
Sold
<i>Construction</i> <br>1973 Serigraph <br><br>#A0913
Construction
1973 Serigraph

#A0913 Barbara Lewis $665
Monochromatic Abstract With Red Square Detail <br>1970s Serigraph <br><br>#A0920
Monochromatic Abstract With Red Square Detail
1970s Serigraph

#A0920 Barbara Lewis $745
Colorful Geometric Collage <br>1967 Cut Paper<br><br>#A1497
Colorful Geometric Collage
1967 Cut Paper

#A1497 Barbara Lewis $295
Petit Monochromatic Vignettes <br>1967 Ink <br><br>#96728
Petit Monochromatic Vignettes
1967 Ink

#96728 Barbara Lewis $575
Sold
Blue & Brown Gestural Abstract <br>1968 Photo Etching & Collage <br><br>#A0960
Blue & Brown Gestural Abstract
1968 Photo Etching & Collage

#A0960 Barbara Lewis $395
<i>Routel</i> <br>1969 Stone Lithograph <br><br>#A0950
Routel
1969 Stone Lithograph

#A0950 Barbara Lewis $385
Vintage Graphite San Francisco Architectural Detail Drawing <br><br>#A9150
Vintage Graphite San Francisco Architectural Detail Drawing

#A9150 Barbara Lewis $215
Four Clarinet Players Vintage Sketch <br>20th Century Graphite <br><br>#A0962
Four Clarinet Players Vintage Sketch
20th Century Graphite

#A0962 Barbara Lewis $295
Monochrome Brushstroke Abstract <br>20th Century Ink <br><br>#A9152
Monochrome Brushstroke Abstract
20th Century Ink

#A9152 Barbara Lewis $325
Sold
Vintage Reclining Brushstroke Figure <br>20th Century Watercolor <br><br>#A0958
Vintage Reclining Brushstroke Figure
20th Century Watercolor

#A0958 Barbara Lewis $355
Sold
Abstracted Figure in the Garden <br>Mid Century Ink <br><br>#A0945
Abstracted Figure in the Garden
Mid Century Ink

#A0945 Barbara Lewis $245
<i>Yoga </i> <br>20th Century Watercolor & Charcoal <br><br>#A0948
Yoga
20th Century Watercolor & Charcoal

#A0948 Barbara Lewis $345
Colorful Vintage Abstracted City Detail <br>1970s Serigraph <br><br>#A0949
Colorful Vintage Abstracted City Detail
1970s Serigraph

#A0949 Barbara Lewis $445
Indigo San Francisco City Detail <br>1970 Photo-Etching <br><br>#A0976
Indigo San Francisco City Detail
1970 Photo-Etching

#A0976 Barbara Lewis $265
Bold Vintage Primary Color Field <br>20th Century Watercolor & Gouache <br><br>#A9149
Bold Vintage Primary Color Field
20th Century Watercolor & Gouache

#A9149 Barbara Lewis $415
Sold
Vintage Graphite San Francisco Architectural Detail Drawing <br>Mid-Late 20th Century Graphite <br><br>#A9151
Vintage Graphite San Francisco Architectural Detail Drawing
Mid-Late 20th Century Graphite

#A9151 Barbara Lewis $215
<i>Spots & Splatter</i> <br>1969 Mixed Media Print <br><br>#A9155
Spots & Splatter
1969 Mixed Media Print

#A9155 Barbara Lewis On Hold
<i>Yellow Over Silkscreen</i> <br>1970 Mixed Media Print <br><br>#A9159
Yellow Over Silkscreen
1970 Mixed Media Print

#A9159 Barbara Lewis $385
<i>Blue Over Red</i> <br>1970 Mixed Media Print <br><br>#A9157
Blue Over Red
1970 Mixed Media Print

#A9157 Barbara Lewis $375
<i>Abstract Squares</i> <br>Mid-Late 20th Century Oil <br><br>#A8784
Abstract Squares
Mid-Late 20th Century Oil

#A8784 Barbara Lewis $1,750
Sold
<i>Tigerman Assignment</i> <br>Mid Century Oil <br><br>#A8786
Tigerman Assignment
Mid Century Oil

#A8786 Barbara Lewis $1,650
<i>Harrison Building - Flowering Cliffs</i> <br>Mid-Late 20th Century Acrylic <br><br>#A4061
Harrison Building - Flowering Cliffs
Mid-Late 20th Century Acrylic

#A4061 Barbara Lewis $2,375
Sold
<i>Medinet Habu Portal</i> <br>Mid-Late 20th Century Acrylic <br><br>#A8804
Medinet Habu Portal
Mid-Late 20th Century Acrylic

#A8804 Barbara Lewis $1,595
<i>Summer Garden</i> <br>Mid Century Acrylic & Charcoal <br><br>#A8818
Summer Garden
Mid Century Acrylic & Charcoal

#A8818 Barbara Lewis $1,595
Sold
<i>Tango I</i> <br>20th Century Oil, Pastel & Charcoal <br><br>#A8803
Tango I
20th Century Oil, Pastel & Charcoal

#A8803 Barbara Lewis $1,975
Sold
<i>The Meadow</i> <br>Mid-Late 20th Century Acrylic <br><br>#A8832
The Meadow
Mid-Late 20th Century Acrylic

#A8832 Barbara Lewis $2,695
Sold
Cityscape Deconstruction <br>20th Century Mixed Media & Photo Transfer <br><br>#96734
Cityscape Deconstruction
20th Century Mixed Media & Photo Transfer

#96734 Barbara Lewis On Hold
<i>Sails and Steam</i> <br>1976 Serigraph <br><br>#A1006
Sails and Steam
1976 Serigraph

#A1006 Barbara Lewis $475
City Abstraction in Primary Colors <br>Late 20th Century Print<br><br>#96732
City Abstraction in Primary Colors
Late 20th Century Print

#96732 Barbara Lewis $435
Sold
<i>White Square Abstract</i> <br>20th Century Oil <br><br>#A8428
White Square Abstract
20th Century Oil

#A8428 Barbara Lewis $895
Sold
Black & White Linear Zig-Zag Abstract <br>1967 Ink <br><br>#A1498
Black & White Linear Zig-Zag Abstract
1967 Ink

#A1498 Barbara Lewis $545
Sold
Precise Geometric Grid Drawing <br>1967 Ink <br><br>#A1504
Precise Geometric Grid Drawing
1967 Ink

#A1504 Barbara Lewis $545
Sold
Geometric Abstract in Blue, Yellow & Red <br>Mid Century Collage <br><br>#99054
Geometric Abstract in Blue, Yellow & Red
Mid Century Collage

#99054 Barbara Lewis $575
Sold
Angular Industrial Sculpture <br>1969 Photograph <br><br>#A1515
Angular Industrial Sculpture
1969 Photograph

#A1515 Barbara Lewis $645
Sold
<i>Shadow of an Escape</i> <br>1974 Etching <br><br>#96330
Shadow of an Escape
1974 Etching

#96330 Barbara Lewis $365
Sold
<i>Foliage</i> <br>20th Century Oil <br><br>#A7859
Foliage
20th Century Oil

#A7859 Barbara Lewis $1,850
Sold
<i>Bedouin Dress</i> <br>20th Century Chalk Painting <br><br>#A7880
Bedouin Dress
20th Century Chalk Painting

#A7880 Barbara Lewis $2,295
Sold
<i>Lisbon Station</i> <br>1972 Silver Serigraph <br><br>#A0931
Lisbon Station
1972 Silver Serigraph

#A0931 Barbara Lewis $875
Sold
Double Image of a City Bridge <br>20th Century Woodblock <br><br>#A1478
Double Image of a City Bridge
20th Century Woodblock

#A1478 Barbara Lewis $465
Sold
Bold Red & Blue Brushstroke Abstract <br>Mid-Late 20th Century Oil <br><br>#A7585
Bold Red & Blue Brushstroke Abstract
Mid-Late 20th Century Oil

#A7585 Barbara Lewis $1,195
Sold
Modernist Green and Violet Abstract<br>Mid-Late 20th Century Oil<br><br>#A7588
Modernist Green and Violet Abstract
Mid-Late 20th Century Oil

#A7588 Barbara Lewis $1,295
Sold
Textured Collage<br>1972 Mixed Media<br><br>#A5986
Textured Collage
1972 Mixed Media

#A5986 Barbara Lewis $345
Double Sided Drawing of McAllen Texas</i><br>1956 Watercolor and Ink<br><br>#A5982
Double Sided Drawing of McAllen Texas
1956 Watercolor and Ink

#A5982 Barbara Lewis $245
Sold
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