Pigment of Your Imagination: Justin “Lefty” Lefkowitz in Nilson Gallery
- Erika Schaefer
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 10
There’s something powerful about the moment when imagination begins to take form. That in-between space where memory, feeling, and creativity collide. This spring and summer, the Monmouth Museum’s Nilson Gallery invites you into that space with Pigment of Your Imagination, a new exhibition by Justin “Lefty” Lefkowitz.
Opening Thursday, May 14 from 6 to 8 pm, this free public opening reception marks the debut of a body of work that is as layered in process as it is in meaning.
Lefkowitz’s paintings are not immediate. They are built slowly, deliberately, sometimes over dozens or even a hundred layers. What begins as something indistinct evolves into compositions full of depth, movement, and quiet discovery.
The longer you look, the more you begin to see.
There is a sense of familiarity in his work, but nothing is literal. Influenced by abstract expressionism and the visual language of animation, Lefkowitz reinterprets rather than recreates. Shapes emerge, then disappear.
What makes this exhibition even more compelling is the story behind it. Lefkowitz began painting during a period of serious health challenges, when processing everyday sensory input became difficult. Painting became a way through, a way to focus, rebuild, and create. That experience lives within the work, in its persistence, its layering, and its sense of emergence over time.
There is also a generosity in his practice. Beyond the studio, Lefkowitz supports numerous charitable organizations through both his artwork and his time. His work has been featured across various media platforms, reaching a growing audience while remaining deeply personal.
This exhibition invites you to slow down. To look closely. To find something unexpected within the layers.
Join us for the opening reception on May 14th 6-8pm, and experience Pigment of Your Imagination up close. As always, openings are free and open to the public.
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