In Good Company: Lucy Hewett
An ongoing series of short interviews with artists that we work with or admire called “In Good Company.” Answers are lightly edited for length and clarity.
Lucy Hewett’s photographic style emboldens the everyday with rich and activated color. Energized by her imagery, DeGroot approached Hewett for a corporate client opportunity to artfully capture the Wrigleyville, East Lakeview, and River North neighborhoods of Chicago. We are pleased to highlight Lucy Hewett’s work and words below.
Where do you currently reside: Chicago
Hometown: Indianapolis
Favorite Chicago Scene: Lake Michigan covered in ice and snow
Favorite Chicago Food: Bartoli’s deep dish pizza
Favorite Model of Car: ‘66 VW Bug
Pandemic Binge Show of Choice: Queen’s Gambit
Can you describe your photography style?
My photos are graphic, with rich colors and bold contrast. My background is in design and that approach to composition comes through in my photographic work.
Photography is a tool to record or capture detail, what do you try to get your audiences to notice?
I’m always responding to light and color. I like to reimagine the framing of an object or scene. When I capture it from several different perspectives, I hope to provide something unexpected in the seemingly mundane.
Can you describe your photographic intuition, or process, as you worked to capture these specific neighborhoods?
I enjoyed walking around for some time before I took my camera out. I carried two cameras with contrasting focal lengths so I can quickly work through different framing options. I followed the light and noticed how it was interacting with architecture and nature in each neighborhood.
Are there any notable stories behind any of the photographs that were selected?
While I was working in River North, the neighborhood looked much different than it typically does. We were in the midst of a Covid-19 surge and protests had taken place all summer. The typically bustling business district was quiet and empty. As I was finishing my last shots of the day a scooter slowly rolled past the empty sidewalk, the only person for what seemed like miles. I did a double take and it was Alex Maier who was also working on this project! I hadn’t seen him since the lockdowns and it was such a relief to see a familiar face in such an eerie cityscape.
Who are some other photographers, or artists, whose work has been inspiring to you as of late?
I am always inspired by Sasha Arutynova — her images of life in New York feel like little visual poems.
What moments are you most excited to capture after the pandemic is over?
I am excited to get back to my practice in portraiture and not have the limitations the pandemic has placed on distance and time with people.
Lucy Hewett