Tony Lewis (d.o.b 1986) who is best known for his large-scale drawings and collages, often utilizes graphite in creating both works on paper as well as site-specific floor drawings and sculptures to explores his understanding and depiction of the malleability of language.

“One of the reasons why I love stenography is that it opens up a world of abstraction…it’s a free flowing movement of my body—a word is a series of loops, of stretching my arm as long as I can. I’m thinking less about the meaning of the word and more about the meaning of making a gesture.”

His works often appear abstract and spare, but speak to issues at large such as language, identity, and the sensibilities of racism.

Since completing his master’s at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Cleveland native has had more success than many twice his age. His work has been featured in the Whitney Biennial, Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, Art Basel, and Hirshhorn Museum to name a few, while he continues to be part of the roster at Blum&Poe Gallery as well as the Shane Campbell gallery in his current city of residence, Chicago.