“Chromatic Expressions by Megan Lewis: A Celebration of Vibrant Diversity,” at the Community Folk Art Center, displays a selection of 23 portraits, most of which were created in 2023 and 2024.
The paintings, and a few mixed-media pieces, incorporate bold colors, a range of emotions, and various motifs– flowers, geometric patterns and glitter (sparkly forms).
Lewis’ subjects, Black women and men, are seen in a series of non-traditional portraits. They appear at a street corner, in a room containing three bookshelves, and in other settings. The works, many large-sized, document a distinctive visual idiom.
For example, “Fantasy,” an oil and acrylic on canvas, depicts a male figure lying down, with most of his body wrapped up in a swath of brown. Vegetation is joined by a background of orange and gold colors. The piece communicates vulnerability.
In “Sweet Nothing,” an oil and acrylic on fabric stretched on canvas, a young woman faces the viewer. Behind and next to her, there are tiny lion figures and countryside.
“Joy,” meanwhile, portrays a 20-something man in an exuberant pose, with his right arm extended upward, toward a sky dominated by earth colors and swirling colors. This is one of the best artworks in the exhibition.
It’s accompanied by a painting depicting a subject dealing with hard times. In “It Be Like That Sometimes,” a man stands straight-up, with his right elbow leaning on a street-side wall. A canvas bag hangs over his right shoulder, and his left hand is thrust into a pants pocket. The body language projects a sense of frustration.
Similarly, “Wasn’t Meant To Be” portrays a man in a moment of contemplation. He sits in a chair, with his right hand touching his head, and his elbows positioned on a table. Behind him, there’s a window frame and the outline of some plants.
Those two portraits aren’t a template for the show; viewers will see a variety of works. In “Ready,” a woman looks straight-on. Her head is visible; below the neck, there’s a chunk of blue. Black and white spots and an expense of orange are in the background.
And “Did I Pass,” an oil and acrylic on canvas, presents a man in profile, with a striped shirt an essential element. We don’t see his arms or shoulders.
The exhibit displays other pieces communicating the depth of the artist’s imagination. They include “Hard to Hold,” in which bright-red flowers form the background; “Love Will Come Back,” with clouds and glitter in the background; “The Right Has Been Earned,” In the latter artwork, an orange shadow and a slew of circular forms are in the mix.
Even more importantly, the show poses a variety of open-ended narratives, inviting viewers to speculate about people seen in the portraits. In “Untitled,” a mixed-media work, two men stand side by side. We assume that they are friends and wonder what they’re up to on a given day. Then there’s a pensive mood in “What Is the Right Next Move,” as the subject tries to make a decision. What’s next?
Finally, other portraits have an intangible quality. They project a spark, a bit of intensity in a subject’s life. That’s the particularly the case with “Unstuck,” an oil and acrylic, and “Sec Changes,” done with mixed media and oil on fabric stretched canvas.
“Chromatic Expressions” is extensive, colorful and incisive. Its line-up of 23 portraits gives viewers an opportunity to appreciate work by an artist with a clearly non-traditional approach. That’s all to the good.
It should be noted that the portraits are part of a larger portfolio. Lewis, who lives in Baltimore, has created 15 murals. They are situated at the Baltimore Orioles’ ballpark, in the Baltimore Metro Subway Systems, and local neighborhoods, among other locales.
Her solo exhibition at CFAC, 805 E. Genesee St., is on display through May 4. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and by appointment. Admission is free, and the public is welcome.
Megan Lewis will deliver an artist’s talk on Wednesday, April 17, starting at 6:00 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, call 315-442-2230.
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