The Background::
Cydney M. Lewis, the oldest of three siblings, was born into art. Her father, a thirty-year art educator in the Evanston school system, and founder of The Art Unlimited Children’s Art Studio is an accomplished artist himself. He often took young Cydney along to the studio where she spent many hours by her fathers’ side, learning and watching while developing her own need for self-expression. She credits her use of color to him.
Growing up, Cydney’s interest in the arts was far reaching. She studied ballet for 15 years, before moving on to study Architecture at the L’ecole d’architecture des Versailles, France and later studying art at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. Architecture became the outlet for expression but soon gave way to Hollywood. As an Art Director/Production Designer, Cydney worked on films such as the critically acclaimed Love Jones and later on Oprah Winfreys’ Beloved. Motherhood brought back a need for a different self-expression and as her own children showed an interest in the arts Cydney returned to her roots.. Cydney is working with unconventional materials in a sculptural and painterly form, while exploring time and space in this modern culture.
The Line::
Not only does Cydney design one of a kind- drop dead gorgeous jewelry, but she creates absolutely breath-taking art pieces, paintings, sculptures and various other works. The kind of art work that you cannot help but fall more in love with every time you take a glance. She works in amazing mediums, from plastic bags, paper, wire, wood and water color paint, Cydney’s work is truly one of a kind.
What Inspires Her::
Cydney states:
While walking the streets of Chicago, I looked up and noticed several plastic bags trapped in a tree.
Others were floating in the air.
More tumbling along the ground.
At first I took them as litter, as so many do.
I have taken my life experience and shared it through my art.
I draw my inspiration from my surroundings relying on the experiences in my daily life, my relationships with friends, family and accomplices.
I hope to create an awareness of our life in progress and the obligation to find its brilliance and truthfulness through all the anxiety and uncertainties that encircle us.
My jewelry adornments are a reminder of how we can create beauty, by transforming a useful, yet harmful material into a work of art.
Her Adornments That We Love::
Would you even believe it if we told you that all of the pieces below are made of transformed plastic bags?! Plastic bags! You never would have thought this was possible until you see how intricate her designs are::
Why We Love Her::
We love that she can take something that others looks at as trash, and transform our way of thinking by making it something beautiful and innovative and one a kind. We love that she thought outside the box, while others just saw something to throw away, and turned these pieces into works of art that are loved by museums and patrons all the same. We love that she is so much more than just one type of artist. She’s a jewelry designer, a sculptor, a painter and so much more! And we absolutely adore her use of color! Aren’t her necklaces absolutely stunning? It’s literally wearable art!
Jewell recently found wore one of her pieces to an event, and she got stopped at least 20 times by people asking where she found such a gorgeous piece! Her answer? The one and only, brilliant artist, Cydney Lewis.
You can purchase all of her artwork directly through her website, Meartcy.com
