For artist Paisley Lewis, painting is less a task than a state of being—though her formal education was in finance, her creative path seemed almost inevitable. Growing up surrounded by design showrooms—her mother an interior architect and her father a veteran in the furniture industry—Lewis cultivated a sensitivity to how artwork can transform not just space, but the energy within it.
Today, her pieces are grounded in abstraction. Every canvas becomes an interplay between stillness and movement, masculinity and femininity, strength and softness. Lewis crafts visual environments that invite interpretation and introspection. And for her, the art doesn’t end with the painting—it extends into how each piece lives within a room, becoming part of a larger story through collaboration with interior designers and collectors.
Here, female artist Paisley Lewis tells us more about what inspires her, challenges her, and what’s next.
Do you create daily? Is this your “full-time” work?
I stay deeply engaged with my creative practice and the day-to-day management of my studio. I’ve always been entrepreneurial by nature, motivated by the challenge, rhythm, and reward of building something on my own terms. While I may not paint every single day, I’m continually participating in the evolution of Paisley Lewis Fine Art, whether that means visiting design showrooms, coordinating deliveries, developing commissions, or collaborating with interior designers and private collectors.
What inspires you artistically?
Nature and the beauty it offers in both subtle and striking ways deeply inspires me. Many of my pieces incorporate a sense of gloss or luminosity, inspired by the way sunlight dances across water, where light seems to shimmer and breathe. That quality represents the more feminine aspect of my work. In contrast, I often emulate the earth’s rugged qualities through thick texture and layered surfaces, echoing the stratification of stone, soil, and sediment. The natural patina that develops over time fascinates me. Specifically, it’s how age, weather, and wear give surfaces a sense of history and depth. That element speaks to the masculine side of my practice.
What are you drawn to when it comes to abstract art?
Abstraction creates space for both emotion and ambiguity. It invites the viewer to respond intuitively rather than intellectually. I’m drawn to that openness, the ability of abstract work to hold stillness, movement, and mystery all at once.
What challenges you when it comes to making your art?
My biggest challenge in my work is knowing when to stop. It’s easy to overwork a piece when you’re chasing a feeling rather than a visual endpoint. I’ve had to learn to trust the moment when a painting feels emotionally settled, even if it still carries traces of tension or restraint.
Are you currently working on any projects and what’s next for you?
I’m continuing to expand my current body of work while fulfilling bespoke commissions for collectors and interior designers. At the same time, I’m in the early stages of a new series that examines material restraint and architectural balance. I’m studying how silence, weight, and negative space shape visual tension. My practice remains centered around the interplay between masculine and feminine form, a dialogue I return to instinctively. In the studio, I focus on deepening the internal logic of each composition and refining the spatial clarity of how each piece inhabits its environment.
Where can people find your work and do you take commissions?
Clients can submit commission inquiries directly through the dedicated page on my website. I find particular joy in collaborating with collectors and interior designers to create bespoke pieces that reflect the tone, energy, and palette of a space. These collaborations are often the most rewarding, transforming a shared vision into something lasting and deeply personal. I’m incredibly grateful for the relationships I’ve built with my commission clients over the years.
