"My thoughts behind this piece were inspired from our conversation a few weeks ago. The themes I am focusing on are:
Growth…locally and nationally
Seasons of change…new local businesses, new changes at Kiener Plaza, a nod to the new grounds at the Arch
Enjoying nature…the local wildflowers and cherry blossom trees, the Mississippi River, visiting our national parks.
All of these things EVERYONE can enjoy and the Arch provides the space for growth, stories, memories, history, and belonging."
- Carolyn Lewis
About the Artist
Carolyn Lewis is a mixed media artist whose work centers on storytelling through richly layered surfaces. Using vintage textiles, collage elements, and acrylic paint on canvas, she builds compositions that reflect themes of healing, connection, and community. Art has long been a therapeutic practice for Carolyn, both personally and professionally, and this influence continues to shape her creative process. Her work invites viewers to slow down, look closely, and find meaning within texture, history, and color.
Carolyn Lewis lives and works in St. Louis, Missouri. She previously worked as an art therapist at Children’s Hospital in Chicago, where she witnessed firsthand the power of art to support healing and emotional expression. In 2020, she founded St. Louis’s first Free Little Art Gallery, creating an accessible space for creativity and community engagement. Carolyn was also honored to be selected as one of 28 artists for the St. Louis Mural Project, bringing large-scale, colorful works to neighborhoods across the city. Her mural can be found across from the Das Bevo windmill on Gravois Avenue. When not working in her Maplewood studio, Carolyn travels nationwide exhibiting her work at fine art shows. She is married and the proud mother of two children, along with three spirited pups.
