LeeAnn Lewis
An artist, designer and maker based in the Youngstown, Ohio area.
A little about me
I received my BFA in 2015 from Youngstown State University with a Major in Interdisciplinary Arts and Minor in Graphic Design. My primary fine art media focus is Painting. I also love exploring depths of ceramics, drawing and photography and enjoy all forms of art.
I currently work full-time as a local Digital Designer and love working in UI design. In my spare time, I try to create whenever I can. Being able to be creative is a strong positive force to my own mental health. It is one of the rare times I am able to fully allow myself to be in the moment whether that is creating art or designing on the computer.
Art Process / Inspiration
I would describe my process as intuitive. I love to find the work along the way with absolutely no set plan or composition. I find my inspiration through every day life, the action of painting and evidence of the artist.
My painting are layers and layers of mark-making and color. I enjoy using gestural brush strokes to show movement. It can really transport you to that moment of when it was created and put in you the place of the artist. I love the exploration of color and trying to make them work together or clash all within the same composition. I always have a million ideas and projects at once and being able to explore all possibilities is a main part of my process.
Exhibitions
2023
NOOBAA (Non-Objective Abstract Art) 5th Annual International Juried Exhibition [ September 15 – October 20, 2023 ]
3 Square Art Gallery • 2415 Donella Ct, Ste 110. Fort Collins, CO 80524 • Juror: David Reif, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Art at the University of Wyoming • Selected Work: “Glimpse”
57th TAG Annual [ July 8 – August 18, 2023 ]
Trumbull Art Gallery • 158 – 162 North Park Ave. Warren, OH 44482 • Juror: Ed Hallahan, artist and art educator, Penn State University and Jacki Mountan is a working artist with a BFA from OSU • Selected Work: “Tidal”& “Brink”
“Flow” McDonough 2023 Alumni Exhibition [ June 3 – July 14, 2023 ]
John J. McDonough Museum of Art • Youngstown, OH 44555 • Juror: William Mullane, currently a gallery director and board president for the Trumbull Art Gallery • Selected Work: “Glimpse”
50th Annual Hoyt Regional Juried Exhibition [ May 2 – June 29, 2023 ]
Arts and Education at the HOYT • 124 E Leasure Ave • New Castle, PA 16101 • Juror: Dr. Louis A. Zona has been Executive Director of The Butler Institute of American Art. • Selected Work: “Well”
Tribute to Small Works Juried Exhibition [ April 2023 ]
MVA (Modern Visual Arts) Gallery • 35 E. Elizabeth Avenue, Suite 35 • Bethlehem, PA 18018 • The MVA Gallery proclaims the virtues of smallness because small art can portray big ideas, big visions and big talent. A special collection of small art (under 18 inches) offers unique visions – traditional and non-traditional – by extraordinary artists and photographers. • Selected Work: “Strokes”
2022
83rd Area Artist Annual 2022 [ October 23, 2022 – November 13, 2022 ]
The Butler Institute of American Art • 524 Wick Avenue • Youngstown, OH 44502 • Juror: Diane Schaffstein, is co-gallery director and head appraiser with The Bonfoey Gallery. Located in Cleveland’s Playhouse Square, • Selected Work: “Glimpse”
2021
82th Area Artist Annual 2021 [ October 31 – November 21, 2021 ]
The Butler Institute of American Art • 524 Wick Avenue • Youngstown, OH 44502 • Juror: Ed Hallahan, artist and art educator, Penn State University, Shenango Campus • Selected Work: “Peak” and “Storm” • Honorable Mention awarded for “Storm”
85th National Midyear Exhibition [ July 18 – September 5, 2021 ]
The Butler Institute of American Art • 524 Wick Avenue • Youngstown, OH 44502 • Juror: Paul Ching-Bor, Artist, New York • Selected Work: “Dissolve”
Bliss Kids Ellipsis Show [ January 22 – February 5, 2021 ]
McDonough Museum of Art • Youngstown, OH 44555 • Selected Work: “sans trio: I, II, III”
2019
5th Annual Colorful Abstractions Art Exhibition [ December 2019 ]
Fusion Art Online Art Gallery @ 5th Annual Colorful Abstractions Art Exhibition
Selected Works: Strokes (2018) & East Side (2019)
9th Annual “Open” (No Theme) Online Art Competition [ September 2019 ]
Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery @ 9th Annual “Open” (No Theme) Online Art Competition
Painting and Other Media Category • Selected Work: Strokes (2018)
McDonough 2019 Alumni Exhibition [ January 26 – March 7, 2019 ]
McDonough Museum of Art • Youngstown, OH 44555 • Selected Work: Strokes (2018) [Also selected as Exhibition Book Cover]
https://ysu.edu/mcdonough-museum/2019-alumni-exhibition
McDonough 2019 Alumni Exhibition Book
2018
12 | Cubed: A National Exhibit of Small-Scale Works of Art [ September 22 – October 20, 2018 ]
Todd Art Gallery • Andrew L. Todd Hall • 542 Old Main Cir. • Murfreesboro, TN 37132 • Juror: Charles Clary, former Middle Tennessee State University professor, now Assistant Professor and Foundations Coordinator for Visual Arts at Coastal Carolina University • Painting accepted: “Strokes”
45th Annual Hoyt Regional Juried Exhibition [ April 7 – May 24, 2018 ]
Arts and Education at the HOYT • 124 E Leasure Ave • New Castle, PA 16101 • Juror: Reto Thuring, Curator of Contemporary Art, Cleveland Museum of Art • Honorable Mention awarded for “Strokes”
2016
2016 Hoyt Regional Juried Exhibition [ March 15 – May 6, 2016 ]
Arts and Education at the HOYT • 124 E Leasure Ave • New Castle, PA 16101 • Juror: Janice Driesbach, Director/CEO, Akron Art Museum
2015
Current Clay [ November 2 – 12, 2015 ]
Judith Rae Solomon Gallery • Youngstown State University • Youngstown, OH 44555
The Grand Opening of The Soap Gallery Group Show [ October 2 – 24, 2015 ]
The Soap Gallery •117 S. Champion Street • Youngstown, OH 44555
Interlude [ July 10 – 30, 2015 ]
Judith Rae Solomon Gallery • Youngstown State University • Youngstown, OH 44555
Spring 2015 Graduating BFA Show [ April 24 – May 8, 2015 ]
McDonough Museum of Art • Youngstown, OH 44555
Student Art Show [ May 4 – 8, 2015 ]
Youngstown, OH • Room Installation
79th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition [ March 27 – April 10, 2015 ]
McDonough Museum of Art • Youngstown, OH 44555 • Jurors : William Busta • Cleveland, Ohio • Seven Pieces Accepted; Two Awards • Painting • Ceramics • Photography • Graphic Design
Material Muse [ February 5 – 21, 2015 ]
Collaborative Show • Basile Gallery • Herron School of Art and Design • Indianapolis, IN
Sequential Scatter [ February 2 – 13, 2015 ]
Student Project Gallery • Bliss Hall • Youngstown, OH • Room Installation
2014
Student Art Show [ November 16 – December 5, 2014 ]
Student Project Gallery • Youngstown State University • Youngstown, OH • Room Installation
Deliberate Spontaneity [ July 17 – 29, 2014 ]
Oakland Center for the Arts • Youngstown, OH • Solo Exhibition
78th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition [ March 28 – April 11, 2014 ]
McDonough Museum of Art • Youngstown, OH • Juror: Dan Byers
“Maximum” • Painting • McDonough Museum Award
“Repeat.” Painting • “Serving Size. ” Ceramics
2013
Junior Portfolio Review [ December 2 – 7, 2013 ]
Bliss Hall Gallery • Youngstown State University • Youngstown, OH 44555
Creative Clay [ October 28 – November 7, 2013 ]
Bliss Hall Gallery • Youngstown State University • Youngstown, OH 44555 • Curated by: Missy McCormick
77th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition [ March 29 – April 12, 2013 ]
McDonough Museum of Art • Youngstown, OH • Jurors: Dorris Short and Greg Coll, AIGA Pittsburgh • “…oh.” Printmaking • “Min.” Painting
Awards
Honorable Mention, Painting: “Storm,” The Butler Museum of American Art [2021]
Honorable Mention, Painting: “Strokes”, HOYT Juried Exhibition [ 2018 ]
Dean’s List [ 2010 – 2015 ]
Graphic Design Excellence Award [ 2015 ]
3-D in Ceramics Award [ 2015 ]
McDonough Museum Award [ 2014 ]
Red and White Scholarship [ 2010 – 2014 ]
George Meshel Scholarship [ 2013 – 2014 ]
Robert J. Yalch Scholarship [ 2012 – 2013 ]
Education
Interdisciplinary Studio Art
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Magna Cum Laude
Graphic Design
Minor
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH 44555
Graduation Date: Spring 2015
GPA: 3.79