G. Lewis Clevenger
G. Lewis Clevenger is known for his dynamic paintings of hard-edged abstracted forms, textural surfaces, and curvilinear lines. The artist combines layers of paint, blocks of color, and oftentimes charcoal, to create a compositional harmony between the rigidity of one shape and the irregularity of another. Clevenger’s absorbing blend of shapes and lines refer to the artist’s long-standing interest in mid-century modernist architecture. Shapes of differing sizes are layered resembling a building block effect that makes the composition appear to exist on several picture planes. Some shapes seem to recede in the background while others emerge in the mid- and foregrounds. Color also plays a dominant role and Clevenger’s vibrant and unconventional color palette gives a graphic quality to the work. In this selection of new paintings, Clevenger combines acrylic and charcoal on canvas that explore “the ambiguities of daily life.” Referring to moments that are unplanned but experienced, he draws inspiration from within, collecting a visual repository of images drawn from memory, recollection, reality, and dreams.
Portland artist G. Lewis Clevenger received a BFA from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR. His work has been exhibited at numerous one-person shows throughout the Pacific Northwest. He was awarded the Joan Mitchell Foundation Award in 2004 and is a three-time Oregon Biennial selectee. His work has been shown in notable museums including, the Portland Art Museum, the Tacoma Art Museum, and the Bellevue Art Museum among others. Clevenger’s work is part of several public collections including, the Hallie Ford Museum of Art at Willamette University, the Portland Art Museum, the Flint Institute of Arts in Flint, MI, the Jordan Schnitzer Foundation in Portland, OR, the Meyer Memorial Trust in Portland, OR, and the Mid-Century Properties LLC in Palm Springs, CA. Clevenger is also included in many private collections throughout the U.S. and abroad.