Cory Van Lew (American, b. 1990), also known as Lewy V, is a painter whose brightly colored figurative work draws on his background as a graphic designer to portray the everyday lives of Black Americans. His Blue Faces series renders figures with blue skin against saturated orange and pink backdrops, a deliberate departure from the earthy tones often used to depict Black subjects.
Van Lew's practice grew out of graffiti; he has described his path as one that went from tagging walls to being commissioned by the musician Paul McCartney. His brother, with whom he works closely, helped him develop the positive, upbeat sensibility behind his palette of blues, pinks and yellows. His 2020 painting THE LINE UP depicts him trimming his brother's hair, a scene of trust and fraternity that reflects his hope to inspire the Black community through his art's positivity. Van Lew's paintings are held in the permanent collection of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami.
