Cydney Lewis: Colored with Iron and Lace

Fracas Gallery is exploring uncharted waters in July with our first show of the month Colored with Iron and Lace by multimedia artist Cydney Lewis. In the past, Fracas has focused on two-dimensional works, but this month we welcome Lewis to exhibit her sculptural assemblages created using found objects. Her works consist of recognizable materials stretched, woven, melted, or torn apart to create her sculptural assemblages. The artist states that her work stems from the abundance of disposable materials. “I started working with the Plastic Bag because it was everywhere, and no one knew what to do with it. So, I just started to play with it to see what I could do and where it would take me.” She combines textures from found fabrics and fibers, a colorful palette from the various plastics that she manipulates, and synthetic hair to create human-like silhouettes. Through her practice she elevates synthetic scraps into works of art, ultimately challenging what the viewer considers beautiful.

Cydney Lewis is a Chicago-based multimedia artist with a distinguished multidisciplinary background. She began in architecture at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, where she received a BS in Architectural Studies; she also attended the L’École D’architecture de Versailles, France. Her art is held in private collections around the world and has been exhibited widely, at venues including the Union League Chicago, Hyde Park Art Center, and The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. She has received various honors, among them residencies with Chicago Public Schools and Lyseloth Musikerwohnhaus Basel, Switzerland, as well as awards including 3Arts Make A Wave grantee, Best in Show at Governor State University, and the Black Creativity/Green Art Award from the Museum of Science and Industry. Currently, she is a member of Tiger Strikes Asteroid of Chicago.

Credit: Delicately Held. 2022. Cut paper, plastic, fabric, embroidery thread, wire, and packaging paper on Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). 24 x 13 in. (61 x 33 cm). Courtesy of the artist and Fracas Gallery.