At 7 p.m last Friday, something special was brewing at 4Most Gallery & Studio on Southwest Fourth Avenue. Hannah Lewis, a former UF creative photography student, hosted a solo exhibition called “FAT: Fashion Art Threads.” Lewis created the display of wearable art to shed light on plus-size women in fashion.
Decals of “Venus of Willendorf,” a female figurine, lined the front glass walls of the gallery. Stepping into the small and intimate space, guests are immediately greeted by Lewis’s warm personality. Lewis stood tall in her black, heeled boots, checkered skirt and crisp white shirt completed with a hot pink ascot. With her bold style, it is obvious she lives by the message of her art pieces.
Colorful and wildly creative pieces lined the walls. Lewis described her love of using all things tacky in her designs. She incorporates delightfully gaudy elements into all her pieces from plastic gemstones to neon to holographic vinyl. Among the clothing, kitschy items from all decades were piled on top of and inside display cases.
Some pieces were sculptural, such as a blazer with candy-colored plastic parrots resting on the shoulder pads. Others utilized different fabrics and textures in order to leave an impression on the viewer, like the glitter-sleeved cream sweater with pom-poms lining the neckline.
Lewis created these pieces using vintage and thrifted clothing. She then reconstructed them in order to fit a size range of 14-28. Lastly, she added her personal touches using craft supplies and found items. The process speaks to Lewis’s resourcefulness and commitment to expanding the options available to plus-size women.
Lewis graduated from UF with a degree in creative photography in 2016. After graduation, she realized that her passion was in sculpture rather than photography. Lewis also saw a need for fun, expressive clothing for plus-size women. These factors led her to create Fashion Art Threads (FAT), “a collection of wearable art designed specifically with the plus-size person in mind.”
Lewis’s collection is especially relevant in the context of today’s body positivity movement. It has swept through all of social media with hashtags, photos and proclamations of proud plus-size women. Lewis is inspired by women, like BuzzFeed’s Jazzmyne Robbins, who are bold in their style despite the negative attitudes surrounding plus-size women and the lack of young, colorful clothing that is offered to them.
Lewis looks forward to continuing to promote plus-size women in fashion with her exhibition. She also has an Etsy store called timecapsulevintage where she sells her clothing. For women who would like to contribute to the movement, Lewis encourages them to try it. Her message is clear: “If I can do it, anyone can.”
Gainesville residents came to 4Most Gallery & Studio last Friday night to appreciate Hannah Lewis’ unique wearable art exhibit.
