MFA University of Memphis
BS Tennessee State University AA Bard College |
Desmond Lewis, a sculptor, grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. Desmond is currently the Studio Technician for the Department of Art + Design at Austin Peay State University.
At the University of Memphis, he has been the recipient of the Graduate Purchase Award from the 34th Annual Student Exhibition at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis, while additionally being the recipient of the Tom Stevens Scholarship, Haystack School of Crafts’ Minority Scholarship, and the RiverArts Scholarship. Lewis’ work has been exhibited in Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, South Dakota, and Massachusetts. His public work can be found at Penland School of Crafts, Carolina Bronze Sculpture Park, the City of Lenoir, North Carolina, the City of Hickory, North Carolina, Vermont Carving and Sculpture Center, The University of Memphis, Soulsville USA (Memphis, TN), and Orange Mound (Memphis, TN). |
I am a sculptor that explores political, social, environmental, and economic issues regarding race and ethnicity in the United States. Over the past ten years our world has grown technologically to new heights and racially to new lows. The dark confines of police brutality, racist governmental policies, and racially charged murders that have plagued our world discreetly have been uncovered through horrific events. These events deserve to be recognized visually as they affect everyone’s lives, no matter one’s skin color or ethnic background. Through the creation of fabricated and forged sculptures, my work seeks to stimulate the conversation with regard to America and Europe's dark racial past, challenging present, and questionable future. I seek to develop sculptural forms that incorporate aspects of the past and present to further the notion that society has an affinity of perpetuating an explicit attachment to the “separate, but equal” past.
My sculptures use industrial materials to construct visual supports that express the need to refocus our society’s attention on the importance of the race conversation at hand. The use of these materials requires a commitment from the mind, body, and soul to transform it from a raw state to a finished sculpture. This relationship with materials is echoed with my everyday commitment via mind, body, and soul to living in the United States as an African American male whom desires nothing but to avoid trouble and commit to not only making a successful career for himself, but contributing to the betterment of the world as well. Everyday, I awaken to the reality that I have to remain conscious of my actions and my competition due to the reality of our society heavily scrutinizing me not only because of my technical abilities and intellectual knowledge but because race and gender as well. Young African American males seemingly face an ever-growing mountain in society in order to be successful and sometimes it is truly frustrating and unnerving. It is through my impenetrable relationship with industrial materials that I am able to find solstice and comfort from this racist reality yielded by America in that I can forge, form, or fabricate a material into what I want it to be in the studio and feel safe from the ignorance of society. My labor is my refuge.
My sculptures use industrial materials to construct visual supports that express the need to refocus our society’s attention on the importance of the race conversation at hand. The use of these materials requires a commitment from the mind, body, and soul to transform it from a raw state to a finished sculpture. This relationship with materials is echoed with my everyday commitment via mind, body, and soul to living in the United States as an African American male whom desires nothing but to avoid trouble and commit to not only making a successful career for himself, but contributing to the betterment of the world as well. Everyday, I awaken to the reality that I have to remain conscious of my actions and my competition due to the reality of our society heavily scrutinizing me not only because of my technical abilities and intellectual knowledge but because race and gender as well. Young African American males seemingly face an ever-growing mountain in society in order to be successful and sometimes it is truly frustrating and unnerving. It is through my impenetrable relationship with industrial materials that I am able to find solstice and comfort from this racist reality yielded by America in that I can forge, form, or fabricate a material into what I want it to be in the studio and feel safe from the ignorance of society. My labor is my refuge.