For Immediate Release

Atlanta Contemporary a solo exhibition by Tau Lewis

On view: January 11 - February 25, 2018 

Exhibition Opening: Thursday, January 11, 6-9pm*

ATLANTA—July 19 – Atlanta Contemporary Art Center (Atlanta Contemporary) is pleased to announce a solo exhibition with Tau Lewis.

Tau Lewis makes sculptures primarily with plaster and resin that
address her Black Canadian hybrid identity. She casts her own body
or the bodies of her friends as a way of turning the vulnerability lens on
themselves exploring topics of individuality, collective identity, memory,
self-image, gender, and sexuality. While the subjects of the faces she
works with are very much alive, they frequently have their eyes closed
– giving the feel of a death mask, a memento of the deceased that
many cultures have used as a portrait or way of knowing and
remembering those we have lost. She adds color to the masks by
grinding and blending different artist chalk pastels each labeled
‘skin-tone’ or ‘flesh-tone,’ in a display of white privilege that is rampant
through the Americas. Lewis’ masks are likenesses of herself, are the
features of black bodies, but without the pigmentation of African skin.
This sense of placelessness and disembodiment and a true need for
tangible self-understanding in a Canada whose cultural imaginary
overwhelmingly white that runs incredibly deep in Lewis’ work.
This exhibition continues Atlanta Contemporary’s efforts to present and
debut newly commissioned work by national/international artists to our
community. Lewis’ exhibition will be a fully new body of work.

Tau Lewis (b. 1993, Toronto) Solo and two-person exhibitions: Copper
Cole Gallery, Toronto; 8-11 Gallery, Toronto; The Pendulum Project at
Studio 223a, Toronto. Recent group exhibitions include: New Museum,
New York; Night Gallery, Los Angeles; Sleep Center, New York;
Galleri Tom Christo ersen, Copenhagen; Art Gallery of Ontario,
Toronto; Cooper Cole, Toronto; Art Gallery of York University, Toronto;
116 Geary Ave, Toronto. Lewis lives and works in Toronto, Canada.

ABOUT ATLANTA CONTEMPORARY Atlanta Contemporary Art Center is a non-profit, non-collecting institution dedicated to the creation, presentation, and advancement of contemporary art by emerging and established artists. Atlanta Contemporary creates a diverse cultural landscape for artists, arts professionals, and the art-interested public through its exhibitions, educational programming, and studio artist program. 

Visit atlantacontemporary.org to learn more.  All press inquiries, contact:  Daniel Fuller, Curator daniel@atlantacontemporary.org