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About Lewis Derogene
Lewis Derogene, known artistically as PhenomenaLewis, born 1997 in Haiti, currently based in Connecticut, USA. Her artistic journey was significantly influenced by her upbringing in a family filled with creatives, where her mother was a fashion designer in Haiti, and her aunts and uncles pursued careers in music, painting, and sculpture. From a very young age, she had a strong interest in the arts, which she has passionately pursued and embraced throughout her life.
Lewis holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from the School of Visual Arts, which she earned in 2019. Currently, she is enrolled at the Academy of Art University, where she is working towards a Master of Arts (MA) in Fashion Art Direction. This advanced degree represents not only a significant qualification but also a unique opportunity for Lewis to combine her artistic talents with a visionary role in creatively directing various productions, such as fashion editorials, music videos, and entertainment industry projects. Her aspiration is to share her profound creativity with the world and leave a lasting mark on the arts.
Throughout her artistic journey, Lewis's work has been infused with a compelling sense of nostalgia and a deep longing for connection. Themes of identity, the power of storytelling, and the attraction of imperfection are central to her artistic exploration. Her goal is to create art that
resonates with the heart, awakening emotions and connections within individuals, allowing them to find deeper meaning within themselves and the world around them.
Lewis is a versatile artist who skillfully works with various mediums, including photography, 3D modeling, sculpture, installation art, painting, and drawing. Her portfolio showcases an extensive body of work, reflecting the depth of her identity and the numerous sources of inspiration that fuel her creativity.
She draws inspiration from a diverse range of artists, such as Rembrandt, known for his mastery of chiaroscuro, which expertly guides the viewer's gaze, Aida Muluneh, whose simplistic yet bold photo manipulations resonate with her, and Muholi Zanele, acclaimed for their powerful self-portrait photography.
At the core of her artistic journey is a strong desire to express and embody softness as a Black woman. Lewis's work serves as a compelling exploration of identity, art, and humanity, inviting viewers to join her on a journey of self-discovery, connection, and creative expression.
Follow her social media @PhenomenaLewis.
To support Phenomena's art practice, please visit her funding page or purchase a limited-edition photographic print to your collections from her online art store.
Selected Art Shows
2024
“The Perfect View” curated by Bianca Jean-Pierre featuring 3 select artworks from “The Lady and the Chair” series - part 11, 16 and 22 displayed at Harsh Collective in New York City.
2024
Select artworks: "I Am Here," "Understanding," and "Parallel" featured in Saatchi's Art new digital exhibition: " Emerge: Contemporary Narratives of African American Expression," curated by Siting Wang.
2024
"Inner Dialogue" select artworks: "The Replacement of Pain," "Liberation," and "Acceptance" featured in the 5th Chelsea International Photography Competition exhibition at the Agora Gallery in Chelsea, New York.
2022
"Inner Dialogue" Solo Show Preview at the Home Gallery in New York, NY curated by The Honey Pump.
2022
"Healing & Hope” group show at the Kente Royal Gallery in Harlem, NY curated by Dodji Gbedemah.
2021
“Groop Shø” group show for Arts Gowanus in Brooklyn, NY curated by Raina Mehler.
2021
“Juneteenth: A Celebration of Black Art, Identity, and Freedom,” group show in Brooklyn, NY curated by We Roam Freely.
2021
“tHP: Beacon,” group show in Brooklyn, NY curated by The Honey Pump art agency in collaboration with the Satellite Art Club.
2020
"Beyond Beauty: the ideal form," in Norwalk, CT curated by Lewis Derogene.
2020
"Bathing in Blackness," in New York, NY curated by Kamra Hakim.
2020
"LIC Live Art," in Long Island City, NY curated by Furusho von Puttkammer.
2019
"Satellite Art Show," in the Pfizer Building in Brooklyn, NY curated by Brian Whiteley.
2019
“GI Portal,” on Governor’s Island in New York, NY curated by 4 Heads.
2019
"Veiled," in the TBG Gallery in New York, NY curated by Lewis Derogene, Anna Stallone and Soyoung Chang.
2018
“Open Studios,” in the School of Visual Arts in New York, NY curated by the BFA Fine Arts department.
2018
“The Antithesis Project,” (Fridge Art Fair) in the NU Hotel in Brooklyn, NY curated by Eric Ginsburg and Amanda Acosta.
2017
“ARE - WE - MORE,” in the Living Gallery Outpost in New York, NY curated by Lewis Derogene, Steven Drake, Haley Peacock, and Vieno James.
2017
“Salutation Vineyard,” in the Powell State Building, New York, NY curated by Anthony Burton.
2014
“Street Seats,” in Downtown Stamford, CT curated by Stamford Town sponsored by Future 5 of Stamford, CT.
Art Collections
2024
Evolved, 2020 self-portrait photograph, 32inx40in, featured on Vogue’s Best of Photo Vogue January 22, 2024 collection. Click Here to View
2024
Midst, 2020 self-portrait photograph, 16inx20in, featured on Vogue’s Best of Photo Vogue January 22, 2024 collection. Click Here to View
2023
I Am Here, 2023 self-portrait photograph, 16inx20in, featured on Vogue’s Best of Photo Vogue December 4, 2023 collection. Click Here to View
2023
Virgin, 2020 self-portrait photograph, 10.8in x 18in, edition 1 of 5AP, featured on Saatchi Art’s New This Week 05/29/2023 Collection curated by Rebecca Wilson, chief curator and VP, Art Advisory on the Saatchi Art home page. (Click Here to View)
2023
Evolved, 2020 self-portrait photograph, 16in x 20in, edition 1 of 7AP, featured in Saatchi Art’s New This Week 03/20/2023 Collection curated by Rebecca Wilson, chief curator and VP, Art Advisory on the Saatchi Art home page. (Click Here to View)
2022
The Lady and The Chair, 2022 self-portrait photograph still image film (page 14), 11.75in x 8.25in, edition 1 of 7AP, is part of the Chateau Orquevaux permanent collection in their main book.
2022
Memory Lens, 2022 pastel on paper, 21.25in x 92.25in, is part of the Chateau Orquevaux permanent collection.
2022
Lethal, 2020 black and white digital self-portrait photograph, 21in x 38in, edition 1 of 5AP, is part of Arthur Lewis & Hau Nguyen’s art collection.
2022
Pneuma, 2020 self-portrait photograph, 11.25in x 16.25in, edition 1 of 5AP, is part of Arthur Lewis & Hau Nguyen’s collection.
2021
Self Apologetic, 2020 self-portrait photograph, 14.7in x 22in, edition 1 of 5AP, is part of The Seavest Collection.
2020
Empyrean, 2020 self-portrait photograph, 16in x 20.4in, edition 1 of 5AP, is part of actor Jake McDorman's collection.
Publications & Features
2024
Featured in Westport Lifestyle magazine for their “2024 Women of Westport” article by Sara Gaynes Levy with one of my self-portrait photographs from “The Lady and The Chair” series, part 11 of 25 featured on the Letter from the Editor page
2022
Culture Icon zine issue 3 on page 60-61, August, 2022: https://shopcultureicon.com
2022
Featured in Creative Habits visual podcast with Phillip Anthony from based in Washington DC, MD in 2022. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/creative-habits/episodes/Lewis-Drogne---Phenomenalewis-e1t0pcn/a-a9ega6u
2022
“Interview with Haitian Digital Photographer and Artist PhenomenaLewis,” by Jepchumba on African Digital Art site, April 2022: Interview with Haitian Digital Photographer and Artist PhenomenaLewis | African Digital Art
2021
Culture Icon zine issue 1 on page 106-107 in tandem with a poem by Victoria Ajao, April, 2021 : https://shopcultureicon.com
2021
"Interview: PhenomenaLewis," by Chunbum Park on the Emerging Artists Collective site, January 2021:
https://www.emergingartistscollective.com/post/interview-phenomenalewis
2020
"PhenomenaLewis" written and interviewed by Jana Astanov on CREATRIX, August 2020: http://www.creatrixmag.com/phenomenalewis/
2019
“20/20” SVA BFA Fine Arts, May 2019 (catalog)
2019
"Portal GI Press Release" Governor's Island, August 2019 (catalog)
2019
“Here’s A Preview Of Portal: Governors Island, The Wild Art Fair Opening This Saturday On Colonels Row,” by Scott Lynch on the Gothamist website, August 2019: Here’s A Preview Of Portal: Governors Island, The Wild Art Fair Opening This Saturday On Colonels Row - Gothamist
2018
"Sounds Like NYC Ep. #019 | Lewis Derogene," by David Lozada, May 22, 2018: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sounds-like-nyc-ep-019-lewis-derogene/id1360186293?i=1000440720229
2018
“US: Emerging artists showcase their work at Fridge Art Fair in NY” May 2018: US: Emerging artists showcase their work at Fridge Art Fair in NY | Arts and Culture | Al Jazeera