Photo: Nicole Radja

What it is Matthew Lew’s mixed media fuses photography, paint and digital techniques to create modern, urban pieces for gallery and commercial audiences. His previous works have been sold in Macy’s on State Street’s LOOK Gallery. His latest line, “Everything Urban,” is available at CB2 beginning Monday 7.
Who he is The 28-year-old Lake Tahoe native has been creating artwork for as long as he can remember. “I started drawing as soon as I could pick up a crayon,” says Lew, who studied art at the University of Nevada. After three years on the southern coast of Spain painting and teaching English, Lew moved to Chicago on a whim in 2006 and found what he describes as an “incredible, growing and inspirational art movement.” The move fueled an artistic drive that is apparent in his work. He began showing immediately, starting with a group exhibit at the High Risk Gallery, and jump-started his client base by painting live at charity events.
What he makes Lew’s gallery and commercial works take cues from his surroundings, like the view of the Hancock building from North Avenue beach or looking into the heart of the city from the intersection of State Street and the Chicago River. One of his recently commissioned pieces is an eight-by-five-foot painting of the Wrigley Building done on 2,500 Wrigley gum wrappers. CB2 caught wind of Lew’s work and contacted him about developing pieces for the store. For each print ($150–$200), Lew starts with photos of Chicago and layers vibrant colors and painted shapes on to the scene, which are then stretched over canvas.
Why we like it Modern with an urban edge, Lew’s work has a versatility that captures diverse appeal. The funky-yet-upscale feel of his work easily fits in anywhere from a masculine North Side bachelor pad to a bobo-chic Gold Coast condo to a contemporary home in the ’burbs.
Where to find it CB2 (locations around the city) and matthewlew.com.