Congratulations to Emmette Lewis for earning her place a Winner in the Boynes Monthly Art Award [July Edition]!

Who are you?

I am a Canadian/ South African artist now based in Toronto, Ontario. I was raised in an artistic household, having both my father and my aunt being painters; art has always been the core of who I am. The easiest way to describe me is through my work. It’s a reflection of my values, my perceptions of the world and my true self.

What inspired you to utilize painting as a medium?

I have never been great with putting my thoughts into words. Since I was a child I spoke awkwardly and was over expressive. However, painting became a vehicle to a visual language. Through painting I channel my creative and emotional consciousness into a physical gateway that is not limited by boundaries. Moreso, painting as a medium has shown me how to cultivate a framework that is accessible to everyone and unrestricted by language barriers, cultural and political differences, or economic divides.

How would you describe your work?

Primarily, my creative focus regards subjects around environmental conservation and eco-maintenance by utilizing surrounding ecosystems without disrupting pristine areas. Through collecting and recycling organic and synthetic materials, I create abstract reflections of natural habitats. In contrast to the environmental context within my work, I incorporate non-traditional elements like beads, metal, cloth and various textured materials. My art doesn’t follow a specific category or style. Sometimes it is abstract, sometimes it is realism. I follow whatever I feel conveys the message behind the piece best. My work intends on asking the audience to question the relationship between the apparent and the hidden. What goes beyond and what is seen.

Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind your winning work?

I have always been dedicated to my work around environmental conservation. I was inspired to create a piece that is digestible to its audience about a subject so globalized and destructive. Textile waste lives in our own backyard. We all contribute to the fashion industry in some way, often unknowingly feeding this industry that is ruinous to our ecosystem. I felt compelled to create a commentary to hopefully shine a light on a subject that has been kept in the dark. The symbolism of rabbits came from the phrase “breed like rabbits” in relation to the over production of textiles. It’s a play on words to view textiles as “overpopulating” the earth. This comes from how something seemingly innocent is actually harmful in mass quantities and invasive to the environment.

Can you walk us through the technical steps of creating your winning work?

To create the rabbits I retrieved recycled fabrics from second hand stores to comment on the benefits of slow fashion. I also used recycled bags from stores affiliated with fast fashion to further focus on my central purpose. After retrieving these, I color matched my abstract background to have an environmental palette with various greens/ blues and yellow tones. The technical steps of putting everything together on canvas comes down to following the flow of the piece. The depth and composition came together through creative intervention and trial and error to create the final vision.

What do you hope to communicate to an audience with your work?

My only intention is to have the audience reflect on their own relationship with consumerism and the fast fashion industry. I hope the people that relate to my work can explore other alternatives to this and we can all take more responsibility over our environmental footprint.

Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your work?

Honestly, this was my first time away from portrait painting. Traditionally, I have been a portrait artist. All of my commentary whether around social justice, politics or environmental ecology has been utilized with portraiture. Creating a piece that strayed away from the bedrock of my art felt so transfigurative and inspiring. It taught me that my style is not limited to a linear path.

Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?

Through my artistic journey I have had the luxury of doing solo shows, group shows, international features, and finding deep roots in the Ontario arts community. However, my biggest accomplishment is finding my own artistic voice in a saturated profession. Finding confidence in my work to promote myself, stand independently and trust my creative intuition was the most challenging hurdle I’ve been through in my emerging career. Finding confidence in my identity as an artist has given me a sense of value that is indispensable.

Can you give us a piece of advice you wish you had known at the start of your career?

The best advice I can give is to create from a place of pure passion and find your individuality. Separate yourself from comparison and imitation. By growing your own garden, your doubt and depreciation will fade and your art will flourish.

What projects are you working on currently?

Currently I am working on two new large scale pieces that are a mix of expressionist portraiture and realist landscape to be featured in my first contemporary space at Elaine Fleck gallery in Toronto. Along with this, I am exhibiting at the Luxembourg Art Fair during Sept 15th - 17th and in Madrid at the end of the year with Monat Gallery.

What is your dream project or piece you hope to accomplish?

I have had this vision for quite some time but have not executed the space to accomplish it yet. I want to turn my Textile Rabbit piece into a large scale, avant garde sculpture and place them around the city of Toronto in an interactive exhibit. My objective is to have the sculptures be made entirely out of donated textiles by collaborating with different manufacturing companies to take their discarded fabrics and recycle them into a constructive resource.

As a winner, do you have any advice for artists who want to submit to awards, competitions, residencies, etc.?

Apply to everything you can. Any opportunity you see, go and take it and make it your own. Do not get discouraged by rejection! Look at as many art listing sites as you can and learn from your mistakes and experiences with every project you apply for. There is an opportunity for every medium, style and artist, you just need to stay consistent with an open mind for the opportunities that life will bring you.

Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists, what is your advice?

Don’t be intimidated to reach out to mentors and seek guidance from other artists that have walked before you. There is always something to learn from another perspective and experience that you can apply to your own work.

To view more of Emmette Lewis

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