Joe Lewis (artist)

Joe Lewis (born 1943, Columbus, Ohio, died 2021, New York City) was an American conceptual artist known for his work exploring the intersection of language, race, and power. His practice spanned a range of media including drawing, installation, performance, and video.

Lewis's art frequently employed text and imagery to critique systemic racism and examine the construction of identity. He often used his own experiences as a Black man in America as a starting point for his investigations. His work challenged viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about American history and contemporary society.

Significant exhibitions of Lewis's work have been held at institutions such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. His work is held in numerous public and private collections.

Lewis received a BFA from Ohio State University and an MFA from the University of California, Berkeley. He taught at the University of California, Irvine and at Hunter College.

His artistic contributions have been recognized with awards and fellowships, including grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation.