Irmengard Lewis Art Show and Reception

November 4 – December 30, 2023

The proceeds generated from art sales will be dedicated to supporting Laurel Ridge Community College and Barns of Rose Hill.

Register for the reception HERE.

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, prolific artist Irmengard Lewis grew up in Austria. Upon marrying James Lewis, she moved to Ohio in 1948, with the couple ultimately settling in Virginia in 1964. A resident of Clarke County for more than 50 years, Lewis exhibited her work extensively in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, where she gained a reputation for her pen and ink renderings of local landmarks.  

Laurel Ridge Community College has a strong connection to Irmengard Lewis. Her son is Professor Emeritus Bill Lewis, whose wife, English Professor Kim Lewis, retired in 2023 after 24 years at the college. Their three children attended Laurel Ridge, with daughter, Professor Jessi Lewis, returning to teach English.  As the official artist of the 1986 Clarke County Sesquicentennial Celebration, Lewis captured many county landmarks in a large painting entitled “Views of Clarke.” Throughout her career, Lewis also excelled in a variety of other media, including oil and watercolor, often depicting scenes in nature. Affectionately known as “Irmly” among friends and family until her passing in 2014, Lewis was an avid naturalist and drew inspiration from her time in the countryside.