Artist's Statement & Background

Zion's Background

Now in his thirties, Zion Levy Stewart has been drawing and painting for around ten years. Loving encouragement from family, friends and care-workers while living in beautiful Mullumbimby, a small village near Byron Bay in northern New South Wales, gives Zion the enthusiasm to “do art every day”. He really enjoys working with clay, painting and drawing and says “I like drawing people. I live in a place called Paradise, which is like heaven.” A love of life and people gives Zion the inspiration to be “interested in the world” and paint his unique, quirky portraits in watercolour or acrylics.

In recent years Zion has branched out into ceramics with the stewardship of his mother, talented ceramic artist and potter, Christine Levy. She encourages his subject choices with inspirational books and photographs of many Australian and African animals, birds and fish. His pots are glazed earthenware, decorated with brilliant underglaze colours.

R.E.D Inc. (Realise Every Dream Inc.), Zion’s Lismore based caring service, aims to see young people with disabilities viewed as valued and respected community members, experiencing a fulfilling range of life opportunities and choices. Collaborating with other artists Zion has regularly exhibited at Studio RED, which is an art studio established by RED Inc. for their clients in Tasman Way, Byron Bay Arts and Industrial Estate, to encourage their creative potential and development.

Zion has also had several commissions for portraits, various paintings and ceramic pieces over the past few years. His work is in private art collections in the US, UK and here in Australia. Zion has exhibited in a number of local and interstate venues including solo exhibitions.