BREAKING BARRIERS
New York – Lewinale Havette always had her sights set on the arts. Since she was five years old, the bug for creating art began flowing.
Whether it was finding a space on the walls of her parents’ home in Abidjan, The Ivory Coast, where they had settled at the height of the civil war, Lewinale’s passion has grown – and still is growing. “I’ve loved art making since my formative years, around five years old when I learned that my art could free me, transport me, and soothe me,” she says. “It helped me better communicate with those important to me. I couldn’t properly speak the language of the country I was in, and art was my way of breaking language and cultural barriers.”
By: Rodney D. Sieh
Born amid Liberia’s brutal civil war, Lewinale’s parents, Lewis D. Harris, a clergyman and Nancy Hawa Polson fled Liberia to neighboring Sierra Leone, then to the Ivory Coast before settling in the United States of America.
Today, the Liberian-born artists splits time between Atlanta and New York, focusing on her artwork which she perfects by mixing media printmaking and incorporating photography, drawing and painting while honoring the woman’s body and critiquing restrictive, male-dominated societal structures.
For Lewinale, the early stories of her maternal grandmother in the Liberian village of her childhood offered the first glimpse of endless possibilities she is currently endeavoring. “I was offered of life’s overflowing Magic. I then recognized Magic in my metamorphosis from a young girl living under a system of rigid orthodox, patriarchal ideas to the woman I am today — free and with an inclusive perspective of the world.”
Thanks to her family, who have been very supportive, Lewinale says, the doors they opened have helped her pursue her dreams.
For Lewinale, there’s never a dull moment coming up with ideas to create artworks. “Sometimes, it’s a dream, sometimes a vision, or a poem are all useful during my process. I need solitude and extended moments of retreat to birth ideas. Sometimes, conversations with people inspire me to help open my psyche to new ideas.”
I’ve loved art making since my formative years, around five years old when I learned that my art could free me, transport me, and soothe me. It helped me better communicate with those important to me. I couldn’t properly speak the language of the country I was in, and art was my way of breaking language and cultural barriers.
– Lewinale Havette, Liberian-born artist
As the year 2022 winds down, Lewinale is already looking ahead. “I’m working on pieces for an international exhibition and a few others within the United States.”
This month, her work is on display at the Art Basel gallery, featuring the works of leading galleries and works of more than 4,000 artists.
Always looking for a great challenge, Lewinale also has sculpting has been on my radar as she looks to explore new ventures.
Today, Lewinale’s artworks have been featured in exhibitions in museums and galleries in the United States and Europe, including 1-54 Contemporary African Fair in NY, Delphian Gallery in London, UK; Cierra Britton Gallery, New York; Launch F18 in New York, NY; Alan Avery Art Company in Atlanta, GA; the Masur Museum of Art in Monroe, Louisiana; and The ROOM Contemporary Art Space in Venice, Italy. In addition, she was represented by the Pérez Art Museum Miami at Art Basel Miami.
Despite her progress, Lewinale is mindful of her heritage, drawing inspiration from her personal journey as daughter of refugee parents and the continent she left behind. “My work is mostly experiencing from Liberian, Ghanaian, and Ivoirien mythology which have always inspired and fueled my imagination.”