Artwork:
Toti Lewis. Mother’s Bath. Etching, 4/30. 1981.
This work transforms an intimate domestic scene into a quietly evocative meditation on memory, femininity, and the private rituals of everyday life. The composition centers on a nude woman reclining in a bathtub, her pose recalling classical representations of the bather while remaining firmly rooted in the familiar setting of a bathroom. The scene is enriched with a wealth of narrative details—the patterned rug, tiled walls, toiletries, and the small child leaning over the tub’s edge—creating a layered interplay between observation and symbolism.
Particularly striking is the dark expanse of fish wallpaper, an imaginative intervention that transforms the ordinary bath into a dreamlike space. Through subtle line work, tonal variation, and a sensitive balance of tenderness and wit, Lewis elevates a fleeting domestic moment into a poignant reflection on care, vulnerability, and the enduring bonds between mother and child.
Artist:
Toti Lewis is a Canadian artist whose work is celebrated for its sensitive portrayal of the intimacy, rhythm, and gesture of everyday life. Across etchings, paintings, lithographs, and drawings, she captures family relationships, urban experiences, and moments of communal joy with remarkable observational skill and empathy.
Her subjects range from festivals, courtrooms, restaurants, ice rinks, and sporting events to quiet domestic scenes, reflecting her enduring fascination with human interaction and the poetry of ordinary experience. Trained as an accomplished draftsperson, Lewis developed an early expertise in fashion illustration that informed her keen understanding of movement, posture, and character. Her etchings of historic buildings and shops, as well as her later paintings of the Tour de France, demonstrate both technical mastery and a lifelong commitment to documenting the people, places, and activities that shape collective memory.
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1949, Lewis received three Canadian scholarships before continuing her studies at the prestigious St. Martin’s School of Art in London, England. Upon returning to Canada, she established herself as a respected printmaker, producing etchings of historic buildings, shops, and people that remain highly regarded today.
From 1980 onward she maintained an active artistic presence in Edmonton, where her public murals became local landmarks, including a celebrated music-themed mural on Whyte Avenue that stood for more than thirty years. Her artistic practice later expanded to include paintings inspired by several years spent following the Tour de France, a body of work that brought her international recognition.
Now based on Vancouver Island, she continues to work from her studio on commissions and private projects. Her work has been exhibited through venues such as the Cowichan Valley Arts Council and is held in private collections across Canada.
Deep Dive:
Artist’s website.
Foundation:
The Canadian Art Preservation Foundation posts short biographies and information on artists and artwork from its collection in a not-so-subtle attempt to capture your attention and interest in our mission, but we also just want to keep this artwork in view. We are excited about the art we collect and want to share it with you.
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