Tim Lewis

The Alden B. Dow Home & Studio proudly presents A New Vision: The Graphic Arts of Tim Lewis, an exhibition celebrating the extraordinary life, career, and craft of acclaimed graphic designer and illustrator Timothy Gale Lewis (1937-2017). A native of Midland, Michigan, Lewis was shaped by a city defined by the arts, science, and creativity, a vision brought to life through the inspiring work of Alden B. Dow, F.A.I.A., Architect Laureate of Michigan.

This retrospective exhibition highlights five decades of Lewis’ work as a commercial artist and illustrator, showcasing original artwork, prints, and hand-illustrated postcards—many of which will be available for purchase. His signature style, boldly colorful yet refined, whimsical yet elegant, complicated and textural yet accessible, made him a sought-after illustrator for over thirty years.

“We see a great connection between the work created by Tim Lewis and the structures designed by Alden B. Dow that impacted Mr. Lewis’s formative years”, states Craig McDonald, Executive Director of the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio. “Recognized in the New York City’s graphics art world, Tim’s work allows us to see and understand complex ideas from a new perspective. In the words of Mr. Lewis, “Just being decorative is not enough. Ideally, a deeper involvement should take place.” This echoes Alden B. Dow’s thoughts on structures stating, “A building should reflect a person, inspire creativeness, have beauty, and awaken the senses. Real housing is not a place to hibernate; it is a place for individuals to grow.” We are incredibly proud to work with Mr. Lewis’s family to share this kind, thoughtful man and the impactful and beautiful work he created.”

MIDLAND ROOTS

Tim Lewis was raised in one of Alden B. Dow’s early residential designs. His childhood home, the Lewis Residence, was a modest yet richly designed structure that served as an early influence on Tim’s affinity for design. He attended Northeast Intermediate and Midland High School, also designed by Dow. In middle school, he studied under local artist and art teacher Charles Breed, who would become a lifelong mentor and friend.

With Breed’s encouragement, Lewis attended Interlochen’s visual art summer camp, also held in Dow-designed buildings, before pursuing higher education at Western Michigan University. There, he met his future wife, fiber artist Suzanna Ericsen. After graduating in 1959, Lewis taught art for a year, served in Japan with the U.S. army, and moved to New York City with Suzanna to pursue their ambitious artistic careers.

THE BIG CITY

Lewis began his time in NYC at the Visual Arts Academy and briefly worked as an assistant art director at Young & Rubicam. His came after being personally invited by Milton Glaser to join Push Pin Studios.

At Push Pin, Lewis contributed to the iconic design of the 1960s and ‘70s through posters, magazine illustrations, and record covers. In this era, modernist design flourished, defined by white space, strict grid systems, bold sans serifs, and restrained color palettes. By contrast, Push Pin Studios was renowned for rejecting that minimalism, embracing an eclectic, bold, surreal illustration, and a revival of the Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles that once shaped early 20^th-century New York City. Their work stood out for its playful, decorative typography and textured compositions. Lewis’ own style, uniquely playful, abstract, and rich, was a natural fit.

In 1970, after five years at Push Pin, Lewis launched into a successful freelance illustration career in Manhattan. His client list included Time, Forbes, CBS, Doubleday, and Simon & Schuster. His bold work proved versatile across all manners of commercial advertising, keeping him in steady demand for three decades.

BACK TO MICHIGAN

In 2001, Lewis retired to the northeastern lakeshore community of Empire, Michigan, a quiet place where he spent his childhood summers. His “Gallery House”, designed by Chicago architect Cynthia Weese, served as his home, art studio, and gallery. Even in retirement, he remained actively creative, sketching and painting daily, contributing to the art community and local festivals, including annual posters for the Empire Asparagus Festival.

Whether commercial illustrations in leading US magazines, his renowned Barbara Streisand piece, or his whimsical, hand-painted Christmas cards, Lewis’ work continues to be cherished by his friends, family, and communities, across Michigan and beyond.

Now, more than two decades after his retirement, A New Vision celebrates his prolific career and creativity-filled life, bringing his story full circle back to the city that shaped his creative beginnings and launched him into a life of design.