I did not know it could be like this, 2026, Broomcorn, found vines, and thread

Cleo Lewis was born in Cary, North Carolina and grew up all over. In their adolescent years, they spent time in Alexandria, Virginia; Accra, Ghana; Cary, North Carolina; and London. They received their BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2023 and are currently pursing their MFA in Sculpture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. They have a background in Sculpture with a speciality in Fine Furniture. In their adulthood they have prioritized relationships and connection which is evident in their personal, professional, and artistic life.

Artist Statement

My work centers around the intersections of my identity as a multi-racial black woman from the southeastern region of the United States. My work exists to display how my identity plays out in my various interpersonal relationships through the use of object, space, and color. I was able to break down relationship dynamics to their raw elements for the audience to gain a nuanced understanding of the relationships’ functionality. Through my sculpture I am able to communicate the dynamics of love and relationships that are often too complex for words. My hope is to expose the commonality of experience through sharing my intimate relationship dynamics with the audience.