Samella Lewis

Lewis, Samella Sanders Dr.
Sanders, Samella
American, 1924 - 2022

Explore selected works

The image shows a person sitting on a bench. They have short, textured hair and large, expressive eyes. They are wearing a bright pink top with short sleeves, holding an open book in their hands. The background is a textured grayish-white wood grain pattern. The person's expression is neutral, and the setting is simple and focused on the individual.
Samella Lewis, Robert Franklin, Brandywine Workshop and Archives, Boy on a Bench, 2005, color offset lithograph on wove Somerset paper, Gift of Funds from the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, 2023.22.27

Boy on a Bench

Samella Lewis, Robert Franklin, Brandywine Workshop and Archives · 2005 · color offset lithograph on wove Somerset paper ·  Accession ID  2023.22.27
The image displays an upper-body view of a person facing forward, holding a red round object with their right hand. The person's facial features are stylized and abstract with bold colors, including blue, pink, and black. The person has short, cropped hair and is wearing a teal garment. The overall style is painterly with textured brushstrokes. The background is dark with streaks of teal and brown on the sides.
Samella Lewis, Boy, 1948, screenprint, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Florian Carr Fund and Gift of the Print Research Foundation, 2008.115.194

Boy

Samella Lewis · 1948 · screenprint ·  Accession ID  2008.115.194
The image shows a maritime scene with boats and a structure on the water. The horizon is at the upper third of the composition, separating the sky from the dark silhouette of distant land or cloud reflections. A wooden building on stilts is on the right, with vertical lines. Several boats are closer to the viewer in the water, with bold, dark strokes against a colorful palette. The brushstrokes are expressive, with a mix of bold and controlled lines. The color palette is vibrant with blues, greens, ochres, black, and white, creating a visually engaging scene. The background fades into blues and dark hues.
Samella Lewis, Trapper's Rest, 1947, screenprint, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Florian Carr Fund and Gift of the Print Research Foundation, 2008.115.196

Trapper's Rest

Samella Lewis · 1947 · screenprint ·  Accession ID  2008.115.196
The image depicts two figures standing closely together. One figure is taller than the other. Both figures have simplified yet expressive facial features. The taller figure has long flowing hair, and both figures are wearing simple black and white clothing. The setting includes stylized rooftops and structures in the background, abstracted ground foliage in the foreground, and a sky with horizontal lines suggesting clouds or movement. The artist's signature, "Samella Sanders 1943," is visible in the bottom right corner.
Samella Lewis, Children, 1941-1943, linocut, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Florian Carr Fund and Gift of the Print Research Foundation, 2008.115.195

Children

Samella Lewis · 1941-1943 · linocut ·  Accession ID  2008.115.195