Lexus Lewis
Lexus Lewis, AKA V Marie, a multidisciplinary artist from Augusta, GA, has been making waves in the art world with her unique and innovative use of balloons in her creations.
Though not a traditional balloon artist, V Marie has been captivating audiences with her yearly birthday photoshoots, where she uses balloons to create wigs, clothing, and accessories. By pushing the creative boundaries of what balloons can be used for, V Marie has caught the attention of the balloon community and inspired us all to see balloons as more than just party supplies.
After working with balloons in 2015 I've grown to love them even more! I love that they are colorful, and flexible, They can represent celebration and they can also represent sadness/mourning... Balloons are literal shapeshifters, From their physicality to the meaning of why they are present at an event or gathering. I've gone on to create clothing, wigs, props, sculptures, paintings, and even photo scenes, all with balloons! While balloons are typically associated with celebrations and parties, V Marie uses them to celebrate life in her annual birthday shoots. She has been doing these shoots since she was 24, and her birthday doesn't feel complete without them. V Marie also uses balloons to show that life is not always happy and to depict the flexibility of how we define balloons. Her work has been featured in various settings, from galleries and museums to fashion shows, and she adapts her art to suit different audiences. In a recent interview, V Marie shared her artistic background and how she first got into working with balloons as a medium. She explained that it all started in 2015 when she was asked to design for the Art to Fashion show in Atlanta. She had just taken a design class at Georgia Southern and was self-taught in sewing, but she transformed her original work, painting or sculpture, into a wearable art garment. Inspired by her painting "The Cover Up," V Marie used balloons to create a textile that mimicked the painting's drippy, colorful, abstract pattern. This was the first time V Marie had used balloons in her art, and from then on, she fell in love with the shapeshifting, colorful, and flexible material.
“Think outside the box, don’t follow a trend! Be weird, be unusual, take risks, be inspired, and create out of your comfort zone!.”
When asked about her inspiration for using balloons in her pieces, V Marie explained that she loves how balloons can represent celebration, sadness, and mourning. Her work often incorporates bright, bold colors and intricate designs, but V Marie admitted that she often just uses what she has available, regardless of the color scheme. However, her love for bright colors has become a signature of her work.
The BBM: Your work often incorporates bright, bold colors and intricate designs. How do you go about creating these designs? What inspires your color choices?
V Marie: Let me just say I have a favorite color, but I also have no favorite color ... In some of my work, I go for a color scheme, but most times I'm like, f*ck the wheel let's to use all the colors lolol. But on another note, when you get specific about your colors like when I make my wigs. It can get a little costly when you stick to a color scheme because I have to pick through multicolored balloon bags just to choose the colors that I want. Regardless if I use all, one, two, or a few colors, I Like that people know me for my bright color usage, So no I don't use certain colors to convey meaning in my work. Sometimes I just use what I have available.
Though balloons are often associated with parties and celebrations, V Marie has found a unique way to use this association in her art. She explained that she never really celebrated her birthday until she started doing her annual birthday shoots. For V Marie, creating art is the truest form of celebration, and her annual birthday shoots are the highlight of her year. Whether she is using balloons to show celebration or to convey the flexibility of how we define balloons, V Marie's annual shoots have become a part of who she is.
V Marie is also a visual artist who has painted hundreds of portraits, but she is known for her surreal erotica. In fashion shows, V Marie uses balloons in her designs, but she has also sculpted them and presented them in a more sexual light. She has even considered using condoms as a medium since they fit perfectly with her love for balloons and her erotic art.
"I'm still not sure why I haven't used condoms as a medium yet because I love balloons, and my art is erotic, so condoms basically meet right in the middle of both of my styles, so I'm pretty sure will see some condom art by me in the future!"
It seems that she’s interested in incorporating surreal and erotic elements into her art, as well as incorporating latex condoms as a way to blend adult themes with a playful element. Surrealism is a popular art movement that explores the subconscious mind and dreams, often incorporating unexpected and unconventional elements. Erotic art, on the other hand, is a genre that explores sexual themes and can be interpreted in many ways depending on the viewer's perspective. Combining these two genres can result in a unique and thought-provoking art form.
Balloons are litteral shapeshifters. From their physicality, to the meaning of why they are present at an event or gathering.
As for the use of latex condoms in her art, it seems that V Marie is trying to create a contrast between adult themes and the innocence and playfulness associated with balloons. This could be seen as a way to explore the duality of human nature and the different sides of ourselves that we often keep hidden. Speaking about her inspiration for her future collections, V Marie said, "I want to create something that celebrates sexuality in a way that is lighthearted and fun, while still maintaining a level of sensuality and eroticism."
Her unique approach to adult themes has garnered her widespread attention and praise from art enthusiasts and critics alike. V Marie's upcoming collection is set to challenge societal norms and push the boundaries of what is considered acceptable in the art world. Her use of latex condoms as a medium in her artwork is a bold statement that highlights the importance of safe sex and sexual health. Her ability to blend taboo subjects with childlike whimsy has cemented her as a pioneering figure in the art world, and art enthusiasts around the globe eagerly anticipate her upcoming collection.
The BBM: What projects do you have coming up that you're excited about, and what can we expect to see from you in the future?
V Marie: I'm currently working on my sex, love, erotica show coming in the next month in Augusta, GA, I plan to do a nude body painting while the show is going on! I'm curating a few more shows before I move out the city... and you'll see photoshoots that I creative directed in between, so tune in and FOLLOW ME!
V Marie has shown us that balloons can be used in new and exciting ways beyond the traditional party setting. Her innovative and unique approach to using balloons in her art has made her a standout in the art world, and her annual birthday shoots have become a celebration of life itself. V Marie's creativity and willingness to push boundaries are a lesson to us all, inspiring us to think outside the box and find new ways to incorporate balloons into our businesses and artistic endeavors.
