Lee Lewis (1926-1954), a resident of Portsmouth, VA, quickly grew from local artist to nationally recognized exhibitor before his untimely death in 1954. The recipient of several coveted awards including the grand prize at the 43rd Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit in Greenwich Village, Lewis exhibited widely in New York where he began to receive international attention. Expressive and abundantly rich in detail, Lewis’ style favored realism, but with a refreshing undercurrent of abstraction. His characteristic subject matter, old buildings and scenes depicting humble life, was drawn from his Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Greenwich Village surroundings. Although only 27 years old at the time of his death, Lee Lewis left a significant body of work, an enduring record of his keen observation and insight.