Lewis Watts facts for kids

Lewis Watts (born in 1946) is an American photographer, writer, and teacher. He is known for his amazing photos and for teaching art at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Even though he's retired, he's still a respected professor there.

Lewis Watts: Photographer and Teacher

Lewis Watts was born in 1946 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He studied political science and later earned a master's degree in photography and design from the University of California, Berkeley. He taught at universities like the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the University of California, Berkeley, for over 40 years.

His photography is inspired by history and modern life. He often focuses on showing the lives and stories of people from the African diaspora. This term refers to communities of people of African descent around the world.

Watts's artwork has been shown in many important places. These include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Oakland Museum of California. His photos are also part of collections at museums in Paris, New Orleans, and New York.

Exhibitions of His Work

Lewis Watts's photographs have been featured in many special shows. Here are some of the places where his work has been displayed:

• 2017 – Mining the Archive, Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco, California
• 2017 – Work from the Collection, Amistad Center of Art and Culture, Hartford, Connecticut
• 2015–2017 – New Orleans, Photographs by Lewis Watts, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, California
• 2016 – FRANCAIS, Photographs by Lewis Watts, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, California
• 1999 – Lifework Exhibit, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, California
• 1999 – Photography of Lewis Watts, Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts
• 1999 – Lewis Watts, South to West Oakland, Robert B. Menschel Photography Gallery, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York
• 1998–1999 – Urban Foot Prints: The Photography of Lewis Watts, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, California

Lewis Watts in Film

Lewis Watts has also shared his knowledge in films. He has worked as an advisor for documentaries, helping filmmakers tell their stories accurately.

• 2016 – Independent Lens (TV series, documentary advisor for 1 episode)
• 2015 – Dogtown Redemption (Documentary) (advisor)
• 2014 – Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People (Documentary)
• 1999 – Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco (advisor)