Ann Lewis (artist) facts for kids
Ann Lewis (born 1981) is an artist who creates art in many different ways, often in public places. She focuses on making art about fairness for everyone and protecting our planet. She is well-known for her powerful art that sometimes appears in public spaces without being asked for. In 2018, she was an artist-in-residence at the Santa Fe Art Institute, focusing on equal justice. She lives and works in both Detroit, Michigan, and Brooklyn, New York.
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Ann Lewis's Art and Projects
Ann Lewis is an artist who uses painting, installations (art setups), and performances where people can join in. She explores ideas about American identity, power, and fairness. Her art often uses repeated designs and a few colors. She is known for creating art that makes people talk and get involved in their communities.
Lewis started making public art as a street artist using the name GILF! In 2014, she got a lot of attention for putting up a huge police tape banner that said "GENTRIFICATION IN PROGRESS." This was at a famous graffiti spot called 5 Pointz in Queens, New York. Gentrification is when a neighborhood changes, and often new, more expensive buildings or shops move in, which can make it hard for people who already live there to afford to stay.
One of her recent public art projects is called See Her. This artwork helps people understand the challenges women face when they return to society after being in prison. Lewis worked with women at a local center in Boston that helps formerly incarcerated women. This project was part of a series called "Year of the Woman" and was recognized as one of the top art shows in 2017.
Her artwork White Lies #1 is an American flag. On it, she wrote down many statements made by a former president during his first year in office. This piece was shown at an art event in Miami Beach in 2017.
Lewis has also worked with different companies and groups. She designed special jackets for the fashion brand Rebecca Minkoff. Money from these sales went to Not on Our Watch, a charity that helps protect human rights. In 2016, The Amplifier Foundation, a group that uses art to create social change, asked her to create art for them. Since 2014, she has worked with Young New Yorkers, a group that helps keep young people out of prison. In 2016, she helped organize an art auction for them, which included art from many artists who care about social issues.
Lewis will also be featured in an upcoming documentary film called Street Heroines.
What Themes Does Ann Lewis Explore?
Ann Lewis's art often focuses on important social and political topics. These include fairness for all people, women's rights, and issues that affect communities, such as how neighborhoods change and how people are treated by authorities.
Selected Public Art Projects
- See Her - Now + There, Boston, MA, 2017
- Empower Equality - Pride Heritage Orlando Memorial, New York City, 2016
- Never turn your Back on the Ocean - Asbury Park Mural Project, Asbury Park, NJ, 2015
Art Shows and Residencies
- Santa Fe Art Institute Equal Justice Residency, 2018
- Truth to Power/Rock the Vote - Philadelphia, 2016
- Race & Revolution - Governors Island, New York City, 2016
- SHATTERING - Joseph Gross Gallery, New York City, 2015
- Staufferstadt Residency, Strasburg, VA, 2015
