Dead Souls: Desire and Memory in the Jewelry of Keith Lewis

American jeweler Keith Lewis (*1959) has been creating jewelry that addresses issues of queer identity and politics since the late 1980s. His work is witty, shocking, erotic, and moving, and is an act of remembering and witnessing. This monograph surveys a bold, provocative, and ambitious body of work that deserves to be widely known.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 11 December 2023
Publisher: Arnoldsche

American jeweler Keith Lewis (*1959) has been consistently addressing issues of Queer identity and politics in his figurative and narrative jewelry since the late 1980s. This includes a groundbreaking series of memorial jewels that address the impact of the AIDS crisis on himself and his community. Lewis' jewelry is often witty, sometimes shocking, frequently erotic, and surprisingly moving. It is an act of remembering and witnessing, and a joyous assertion that desire and pleasure, wonderful ends in themselves, can collapse historical distance and connect the past and the present.

Written by Damian Skinner and featuring four of Lewis' artist talks that document key preoccupations and series, this monograph surveys a bold, provocative, and ambitious body of work that deserves to be widely known.

Lewis' jewelry is characterized by its use of bold colors, intricate designs, and symbolic imagery. He often incorporates personal experiences and emotions into his work, creating pieces that are both intimate and political. For example, his "AIDS Memorial" series features jewelry that is designed to resemble the AIDS ribbon, with each piece representing a different aspect of the crisis.

Lewis' jewelry has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, and he has received numerous awards and accolades for his work. He is considered a pioneer in the field of Queer jewelry and has played a significant role in shaping the conversation around identity and politics in the art world.

In conclusion, American jeweler Keith Lewis (*1959) has created a body of work that is both bold and provocative. His jewelry is an act of remembering and witnessing, and a joyous assertion that desire and pleasure, wonderful ends in themselves, can collapse historical distance and connect the past and the present. Lewis' work deserves to be widely known and celebrated for its contributions to the field of Queer jewelry and art.

Dimension: 250 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783897906921