As the highly creative and celebrated principal and co-owner of the Reveal Design Group in New York, New York, since 2009, Levia C. Lew leads the design for numerous projects, particularly focusing on non-residential ventures, while her husband manages residential projects. Ms. Lew is deeply involved in the design presentation process, often creating the presentation packages herself. Her hands-on approach and her commitment to building and maintaining client relationships are key elements of her professional success. She believes in actively listening to her clients’ needs and empowering them to feel a sense of ownership over the final lighting design. Ms. Lew’s dedication extends beyond project completion, as she remains available to assist clients with any issues that arise.
Prior to her tenure at Reveal Design Group, Ms. Lew honed her lighting skills in both professional theatre and museums for over a decade, starting with a lighting internship at the Smithsonian American Art Museum while an undergraduate student. This experience culminated several years later with a professional appointment as the resident Gallery Lighting Designer for the National Museum of the American Indian. In addition, Ms. Lew continued to pursue her passion for theatrical design as a recipient of the Allen Lee Hughes Lighting Fellowship at Arena Stage, the pillar of regional theatre for new American work, and as an assistant lighting designer for the Shakespeare Theatre Company, one of the leading theatre companies of classical works in the United States. Concurrently, Ms. Lew also freelanced as the lighting, set designer and painter for Banished? Productions, an independent theatre company based in Washington, D.C. specializing in site specific original work and interpretation of dramatic and literary texts. Upon relocating to New York City, Ms. Lew further developed her architectural design skills as a junior lighting designer at Domingo Gonzalez Associates and Focus Lighting Inc.
Ms. Lew has received prestigious awards throughout her career, including the Muse Platinum and Gold Awards for restaurant and art lighting design in 2024, the Muse Silver Awards for architectural lighting design in 2020, and a Boutique 18 Honoree recognition from Boutique Design in 2015. She won multiple awards in 2013, including a Citation Award from the Illuminating Engineering Society of New York, a Lumen Award, and the Cooper Source Award, all reflecting her exceptional talent and contributions to the field of lighting design. To stay involved in her industry, Ms. Lew maintains memberships in the International Association of Lighting Designers, the Illuminating Engineering Society of New York, and the Designers Lighting Forum of New York. These affiliations underscore her active involvement in the design community and her commitment to staying current with industry standards and innovations.
Ms. Lew holds a Master of Fine Arts in theatrical lighting and set design from Illinois State University, which she earned in 2003, and a Bachelor of Arts in art history with a minor in theatrical design from Randolph College (formerly Randolph Macon Woman’s College) completed in 2000. Her extensive educational background laid the foundation for a diverse and impactful career in lighting and set design. Specializing in theatrical and architectural lighting, her current focus is on training younger team members to understand the industry from her perspective. Ms. Lew emphasizes the importance of technical proficiency, enabling team members to contribute to troubleshooting and collaborate effectively with electricians. Her goal is to elevate the capabilities of her senior designers and showcase the team’s expertise within the broader design industry.
One of Ms. Lew’s most notable achievements was her contribution to the Smithsonian’s 150th anniversary. She helped create and build a sculpture called Me+You, displayed at the Futures Exhibit at Smithsonian Arts & Industries, which was the brainchild of artist Suchi Reddy. This project was a great honor for Ms. Lew and highlighted her ability to collaborate on high-profile projects. She takes great pride in her ability to inspire and guide younger designers on her team. Recently, she has seen team members develop a deeper understanding of their roles and responsibilities, which has been particularly gratifying for her. She is determined to continue fostering this growth and ensuring that her team is well-prepared for future challenges.
Looking ahead, Ms. Lew’s goal is to design custom fixtures with the world’s leading artisan material manufacturers in glass and metal. In her personal life, she enjoys cooking, studying plants and herbs, gardening, surfing, and listening to music.