At a pinnacle point in my sobriety, I took a visit to Zuma Beach and was hit over the head with my calling to create art that nurtures my strength and resilience. Surfing: catching and embracing the wave, enjoying the ride, maybe going under when waters are rough but always getting back up. As my family navigates the fluidity of chronic illness, I must celebrate along the way, and the boards do that for me. I aim to build a kingdom of my own and it is my hope that viewers see themselves as a part of it.

I use pastels and acrylics in bold colors, specializing in abstract painting featuring text and symbols. My artwork comes in various forms, including medium to large format canvases and murals. Additionally, I’m grateful for my ongoing collaboration with multidisciplinary artist and good friend Christopher Smyk, whose art collective Silverlake Gigolos© explores painted and silkscreened fashion. We greatly enrich each other’s work and Smyk’s iconography is often present in my paintings.

You can find more of my work on my Instagram page @kimmyclew.