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Darby Lewis
Primary Medium Clay
Secondary MediumFiber/Textile
Description of Work I have a strong family background in fiber arts and am the first ceramic artist in my family. I make abstract ceramic/fiber sculptures that focus on my sense of self and mental health. My sculptures use heavy texture to visualize thoughts/emotions.
Chapter Out of State
Website https://www.darbyllewis.com
Artist Statement
I am a ceramic/fiber artist and adjunct instructor of ceramics from Middle Tennessee. My desire to go to graduate school is grounded through both my love for learning and the desire to push my art further. Through University of Iowa’s program, my goal is to learn as much as I can and take my art to its next level. The work I see from Iowa’s students is strongly conceptual and multi-media, something I want my work to move toward. Ever since graduating with my BFA in 2020, I have constantly been looking for opportunities to continue my learning, broaden my art community, and find new ideas to explore.
With my ceramic and fiber art, I use material and repetition to ground my mind and give a visible form to difficult emotions. My choice of terracotta and cotton is grounding, tying myself to the world around me, an interconnectedness of the earth, fibers, and my mind. The clay going from the ground to my hands, becoming a direct connection of mind and earth. My hands are simply a middleman to create the vessels and textures that sooth my mental state. One day I plan to evolve to work with wild clay, so I can more deeply connect with nature in my art.
While clay may be the medium that appeals to me personally, I have a long history of fiber art within my family and have found that continuing that lineage is a very important thing for me. To learn from my grandmothers and continue the art form that has helped them with peace of mind over the decades. The strong history of community within textile arts is also greatly inspiring as it connects with mental health support. In both the art world and mental health research, community is vastly important. The sharing of knowledge and support, to know that you are not alone in your struggles.
I primarily create large ceramic vessels, coil built and covered with textures that I feel visualizes my mental chatter. The overall shape referencing the human body, connecting body and mind. Recently, I have also been experimenting with incorporating fibers with the textured ceramics as well as exploring forms beyond vessels. Starting with including quilts with my clay forms and now I am moving toward the fibers becoming the texture. I am still in the early stages of this exploration, as I feel the combination of mediums could be improved to fit my vision better. I am always searching for ways to improve my work and new inspiration. The feminine vessels of Linda Dangoor, the intentional material choices of Rebecca Daryl Smith, and the flowing textures of Fenella Elms- just some of the wonderful artists that inspire me and drive me to continuously evolve my art. The textures and patterns in my work result from a variety of meditative processes- coiling, rolling, sewing, placing each individual piece where it feels best. Some pieces are smooth, inviting the hand to touch- while others are rough and sharp, repelling any desire for connection. With this repetitive texture, I explore my thoughts and process feelings that would otherwise leave me drowning with my depression. My main inspiration will always be tied to emotion and nature. It is my desire that my work will create an open dialogue-- a moment or place where mental health issues can be spoken about freely, without judgment.
I am a ceramic/fiber artist and adjunct instructor of ceramics from Middle Tennessee. My desire to go to graduate school is grounded through both my love for learning and the desire to push my art further. Through University of Iowa’s program, my goal is to learn as much as I can and take my art to its next level. The work I see from Iowa’s students is strongly conceptual and multi-media, something I want my work to move toward. Ever since graduating with my BFA in 2020, I have constantly been looking for opportunities to continue my learning, broaden my art community, and find new ideas to explore.
With my ceramic and fiber art, I use material and repetition to ground my mind and give a visible form to difficult emotions. My choice of terracotta and cotton is grounding, tying myself to the world around me, an interconnectedness of the earth, fibers, and my mind. The clay going from the ground to my hands, becoming a direct connection of mind and earth. My hands are simply a middleman to create the vessels and textures that sooth my mental state. One day I plan to evolve to work with wild clay, so I can more deeply connect with nature in my art.
While clay may be the medium that appeals to me personally, I have a long history of fiber art within my family and have found that continuing that lineage is a very important thing for me. To learn from my grandmothers and continue the art form that has helped them with peace of mind over the decades. The strong history of community within textile arts is also greatly inspiring as it connects with mental health support. In both the art world and mental health research, community is vastly important. The sharing of knowledge and support, to know that you are not alone in your struggles.
I primarily create large ceramic vessels, coil built and covered with textures that I feel visualizes my mental chatter. The overall shape referencing the human body, connecting body and mind. Recently, I have also been experimenting with incorporating fibers with the textured ceramics as well as exploring forms beyond vessels. Starting with including quilts with my clay forms and now I am moving toward the fibers becoming the texture. I am still in the early stages of this exploration, as I feel the combination of mediums could be improved to fit my vision better. I am always searching for ways to improve my work and new inspiration. The feminine vessels of Linda Dangoor, the intentional material choices of Rebecca Daryl Smith, and the flowing textures of Fenella Elms- just some of the wonderful artists that inspire me and drive me to continuously evolve my art. The textures and patterns in my work result from a variety of meditative processes- coiling, rolling, sewing, placing each individual piece where it feels best. Some pieces are smooth, inviting the hand to touch- while others are rough and sharp, repelling any desire for connection. With this repetitive texture, I explore my thoughts and process feelings that would otherwise leave me drowning with my depression. My main inspiration will always be tied to emotion and nature. It is my desire that my work will create an open dialogue-- a moment or place where mental health issues can be spoken about freely, without judgment.
Artist Details
- Craft Teaching
- Clay Intro to Handbuilding
- Commissioned Artworks
- Demonstrates Craft/Artwork
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