For inquiries about Rickey Lewis's stunning oil paintings and vibrant murals, please call (216) 563-2043.

Rickey Lewis - Unleashed Creativity

Explore rickeylewis.com, where artist Rickey Lewis brings his vibrant murals and stunning oil paintings to life, creating a space to thrive and inspire.

For inquiries about Rickey Lewis's stunning oil paintings and vibrant murals, please call (216) 563-2043.

Rickey Lewis - Unleashed Creativity

Explore rickeylewis.com, where artist Rickey Lewis brings his vibrant murals and stunning oil paintings to life, creating a space to thrive and inspire.

All images are COPYWRITTEN by Rickey Lewis 2025

Man bows to a vintage car against an orange background with a pixelated mural above.

"Cargo" Oil on Canvas 3ft x 4ft

Rickey Lewis's oil painting "Cargo" presents a searing examination of the foundational role of enslaved African labor in constructing the modern world. The work challenges historical narratives that marginalize this contribution, forcefully arguing that the agricultural, industrial, and technological revolutions were built upon a grid of Black subjugation.

The painting's central visual metaphor is a series of stark, intersecting black lines. These form a brutal architectural grid, symbolizing the global economic structure—its railways, shipping lanes, and financial systems—all engineered by the forced labor of kidnapped Africans. This "cargo" was not passive; it was the human engine of immense wealth and progress for others, a paradox of brutal exploitation fueling monumental advancement.

"Cargo" insists that we confront this institutionalized legacy. It is a visceral reminder that the concepts of global trade, industry, and capital are inextricably linked to the history of slavery, a history whose lines of force continue to define our world's economic and social landscape.

Discover the Artistic Wonders of rickeylewis.com Artist Studios Through Our Captivating Photo Gallery

Chromathisia, Oil on Canvas 48" x 48"
celebrates pigment as a language of internal, personal truth. Part of my Colored Women series, this piece translates the blissful sensation of a Black woman into a symphony of pure color and fluid form. Her multi-colored afro radiates personal energy, while the abstract, flowing shapes that suggest her dress map the very rhythm and depth of her feeling, a celebration of the vibrant interior landscapes of joy and serenity.

"The Company We Keep" 6' x 7' oil on canvas portrays isolation within a system: a solitary figure connects via a tenuous, synaptic line to a mushroom form—networked yet alone. This "company" is the internal chorus of past and hope, set against a chaotic field. This relational tension is my through-line. From "Power Struggle" to scaffolds of resilience, my work—in studio or street—excavates the structures that shape us, asking how we are formed and can reform the company we keep.

Alluragotcha 3'x6'," I seek to capture that electrifying moment of connection and recognition—the instant you lock eyes with someone and feel the compelling pull of their allure. The composition is built around this intimate encounter. The piercing eyes and inviting red lips emerge as the focal point from a symphony of abstract, multi-colored shapes, anchoring the viewer in a moment of powerful, silent communication.

Tessera, 3'x6' portrays identity as a sacred mosaic. A woman’s gaze, centered within the quiet dignity of her hijab, emerges from a vibrant field of individually crafted impasto sections. Each distinct palette knife stroke, with its own unique color story, acts as a tessera—a single fragment essential to the whole.
This painting visualizes the self as an intricate assembly of experiences, faith, and culture. The woman is both the complete image and every individual piece.

Power Struggle, 36" x 48" Oil on canvas is a striking impasto creation that captures the intense battle for power that rages on in our world. Thick layers of paint create a sense of depth and complexity, as each stroke represents a different facet of this ongoing struggle. The rich, bold colors used evoke a sense of urgency and tension, while the rough texture adds to the overall chaotic feeling. This piece serves as a commentary on the never-ending quest for dominance and in our society."

Experience rickeylewis.com Artist Studios' Dynamic Artistic Process Through Our Stunning Photo Gallery

Red, Black n Blue, the complex duality of the Black experience. The subject’s vibrant, multi-hued complexion is interwoven with red braids, symbolizing innocent bloodshed, and blue, reflecting a police system with roots in controlling Black bodies. This work critiques systemic flaws while acknowledging officers who serve with integrity. The mother’s stoic expression conveys the anguish for her children within an institution meant to protect—yet one that has historically failed to do so equally

all paintings are oil on canvas or wood, unless otherwise stated

Butterflight oil on canvas 30 " x 40" "Butterflight" is an abstract visualization of metamorphosis—capturing the precise, fragile moment a new form emerges. The painting hovers in the charged stillness between struggle and flight, where bold color and fluid form evoke the beautiful, tenuous instant of becoming free.

New dawn today oil on canvas 24" x 36" "New Dawn Today depicts a universal woman at the threshold of a new beginning. With her back turned to us, she faces a pristine landscape of rolling hills and grasses. Her bare back merges with a delicate white lace skirt, symbolizing the seamless connection between human spirit and nature. Her braided hair echoes the organic patterns of the land, presenting a figure of quiet strength, unbound by nationality, gazing toward a collective future."

Original Art and Collectables

We love our customers, and as an artist known for my murals and oil paintings, I invite you to make an appointment with Rickey Lewis at (216) 563-2043.

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Own a piece of the narrative. Original paintings are for sale, with select works also offered as limited edition prints. Custom mural commissions are available by inquiry.

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Contact: rickeylewis@gmail.com

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Rickey Lewis - Unleashed Creativity

Rickey Lewis - Unleashed Creativity