Living in Color in Tyler, TX

A local artist showcases her talent.

By Kelly Rogers on June 14, 2023

Amanda Cirigliano-Ward

Walls, paper, skin – all are canvases to artist Micah Lewis, who works in multiple mediums, including watercolor, pencil, paint and ink. Lewis is primarily a tattoo artist specializing in fine line, blackwork and neotraditional tattoos. She recently opened Maiden Voyage Tattoo in Tyler. Her artwork can also be seen and enjoyed on a much larger scale via the eye-catching mural she painted on the former Strada Caffe building.

What’s the story behind the Strada mural?

Strada Caffe held a contest for the mural, and I won. Their colors were bold, and the industrial look of the décor and building pushed me to design something strong, bright and fun. I really pushed myself to do something out of the box and even thought to myself, “They are gonna think this is so weird, it’ll never win!” When chosen, I worked crazy hours in the August heat to finish it. It was a wild summer, but one I’ll cherish forever.

What mediums do you prefer to work with?

Since working on the mural, a lot in my life has shifted. I finished my apprenticeship and started tattooing. I would say tattooing is my favorite, but watercolor comes in a close second. These past few years, my focus has been pushing myself to improve my art and a big goal of mine was taking botanical illustration from Cornell University and starting my business.

Have you found community with other artists in Tyler?

Currently, my local community looks different than I would’ve imagined or expected, but it’s something I love and appreciate. I hope to host a few events at my studio in the future that will bring creative women together. I know InBetween Studio in Tyler has several events springing up, as well. I highly encourage artists to put themselves out there and get to know others – you never know what opportunities it could bring.