Research Norman Lewis

Norman Lewis

Norman Lewis (1909–1979) was an important African American artist who worked within Abstract Expressionism. He used layered colours, line and movement to show energy, emotion and the atmosphere of life in Harlem. Instead of painting clear figures, he created shapes and mark making that suggest crowds, music and motion. His paintings often feel like a moment caught in motion. One of his strengths was creating scenes that feel alive even when there is no clear figure. This is the type of style that inspires me, bold brush strokes that make a subtle gesture.

Although he worked alongside major Abstract Expressionists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, Lewis did not receive the same recognition because of racial barriers in the art world. He still continued to develop his own voice. His painting The Crowd, below and others from the 1950s show how he used abstract painting to comment on social issues, including civil rights, without becoming literal or heavy-handed.

The Crowd-Norman Lewis

The Players- Norman Lewis

I really love the above piece, The Players by Norman Lewis. The first thing that caught my attention in this piece was the colour choice. The mustard-toned background really stands out against the sharp slashes of blue, creating a strong contrast that pulls your eye straight into the other bold, lively colours and detail work that fill the painting with energy and movement, almost as if the scene is vibrating. I also like how the figures are only suggested rather than clearly drawn, which lets you sense people and activity while still keeping the work abstract, allowing your imagination to take over. The rhythm of the lines and marks feels almost musical, giving the painting its own beat or flow which ties into my starting point. I also appreciate how Lewis creates a busy atmosphere without it becoming messy, which I would like to put into my own work. The composition stays controlled but still expressive.