Out Chicago-based photographer/painter Matt Lew has literally put a global spin on his works, thanks to everything from his three years living in Spain to the water ( from such sources as the Caribbean and Hawaii's Kauai waterfalls ) that he uses in his images. Now, CB2 ( the Crate and Barrel offshoot ) is bringing Lew's unique artistic insight to the world by launching an exclusive collection, Everything Urban, Mon., July 7, in stores and online. Lew talked with Windy City times in his North Side home about his artistic roots and future.
Windy City Times: While reading about you, I noticed that you shortened your surname [ from Lewandowski ] . I'm just curious as to why you did that.
Matt Lew: It was just a little bit easier for me, with writing and spelling it out. Plus, it's always been shortened. When I was in kindergarten, there were five Matt L.'s, so I couldn't be 'Matt,' or 'Matt L.' So they just named me 'Lew,' and it just stuck.
WCT: Your bio states that you've been doing art since you were 2. What do you think it is about art that drew you to it?
ML: That's a great question. It just came from me; I can't describe it. I remember my mom dropping me off at pre-school day care; I was about 3. She was a kindergarten teacher, so I had crayons and markers around me all the time.
One day, the day-care [ manager ] held out a drawing I did to my mother and said, 'Look what your son did. He obviously had help drawing this.' My mom thought that [ the comment ] was interesting and wrote in the baby book that she would see if I had some sort of affinity [ for art ] when I grew up.
WCT: Your mom wasn't offended?
ML: Oh, no. My mom knew I drew it.
WCT: You're a photographer and a painter. Do you prefer one over the other?
ML: No, because I'm actually doing both together and doing mixed media.
WCT: So when did you discover your affinity for photography?
ML: That's a good question, too. Photography didn't come to me until a little bit later; I was living in Spain, I think. A lot of that photography is very European-based, black-and-white and simple. I was about 19 when I really started enjoying landscape and travel photography.
WCT: You've talked about the fact that a lot of your works center around water.
ML: When I first started experimenting with different media and styles, I did abstract. I studied photorealism in school; it was easy for me to look at a photo, blow it up very large and make it look just like a photo. I got tired of it, and I decided to experiment with abstract and color. Then, I wanted to hide different elements in pieces and thought, 'What if I put in different types of [ material ] ?' I'd put in beach sand or various organic elements. Then, it evolved into something a lot bigger; I'd travel and take back water from places like Kauai. I just get a little bottle of water and check it in with my luggage.
But people also send me gifts [ of water ] . [ Takes a bottle out of a cabinet ] This is a gift from Turkey.
WCT: If only everyone was that easy to shop for.
ML: I know. [ Points to other bottles ] This one is from San Francisco, and this one is from Chile. But the new work I'm doing has evolved from more abstract work into more urban photography and paint mixed together. I think that my surroundings—and being in Chicago the past three years—have definitely inspired my work. My work is a little bit more modern and urban, but it's still fun and colorful.
I'm also doing a literary series that's kind of fun. [ Brings one of his latest works ] Are you familiar with the book The Devil in the White City? [ Interviewer nods. ] I've taken pages from that book and incorporated them into a cityscape. I just did a fun piece for a friend of mine. She likes Bridget Jones so I took some pages from Bridget Jones' Diary with pages from the book and paint of top of that for a cool type of effect.
WCT: Now where do you get the idea for something like that?
ML: Sometimes it'll happen in a dream. I can start to see things before I go to bed or it can come in flashes. But sometimes it's as simple as walking down a street and seeing a weathered wall.
WCT: Let's talk about the CB2 development. What is it exactly and how did it come about?
ML: Well, it's my first collection in a store. It's basically a series of pieces; one is a four-feet-by-two-feet Chicago cityscape of the Sears Tower. It's got very vibrant reds, greens, yellows and purples with a lot of cool sketching things I've done. It's called 'Chicago Views.'
The other piece is a natural scene of different trees along Lake Shore Drive. They're four squares that form one pieces, and that's called 'Through the Trees.' So it's all Chicago.
Someone saw my work at an event, and sent a couple of images to CB2, saying, 'You should check this artist out.' Then, the buyer saw my work and wanted me to forward my portfolio. From there, this whole thing started. It started about a year and a half ago.
WCT: Your Web site actually has two addresses: MatthewLew.com and HealingByArt.com .
ML: Yes. HealingByArt.com used to be the domain name when I incorporated organic elements. Then, things evolved and people became confused by the name so I switched over to my name to make things easier.
WCT: Do you still operate according to the philosophy of Healing by Art?
ML: Oh, of course. Those elements are still present but the work has evolved.
The philosophy [ involves ] bringing natural organic elements in my work and [ eventually ] to the [ buyers' ] homes.
WCT: Who are your favorite contemporary artists?
ML: Chuck Close is probably my favorite American contemporary artist; he bases his stuff on a lot of photorealism, and it's just brilliant. Abstract-wise, I definitely love Mark Rothko; his work is very colorful and structured. They're very different but those are my top two.
WCT: Do you think you've influenced anyone?
ML: I don't know. I have a couple artist friends, and we all get together and talk. I think we inspire each other, but me specifically? I don't know—not that I'm aware of. [ Laughs ]
WCT: What does art mean to you?
ML: That's a great question. Art is vital for my existence. Being creative, being able to express yourself—whether it's painting, acting, dancing, singing or writing … Art is who I am.
See www.MatthewLew.com or www.HealingByArt.com for more information.
