Lewis photographs his subjects, often friends and acquaintances, at human scale. He then uses an X-Acto blade to carve into the inkjet print. The artist cuts, folds, scuffs, and rubs to produce patterns and shading, opening up the paper’s insides, as an organism. He adorns his subjects with, in the artist’s words, “intentionality, persistence in caring, understanding and interacting with someone chemically, physically, and emotionally.” Signaling XVIII is part of Lewis’ ongoing Signaling series, depicting Black figures in motion. Lewis’ intricately carved works on paper reflect his experience as a critical-care nurse. During his down time, Lewis made artwork inspired by diagnostic methods—electrocardiogram (EKG) rhythm strips and contrast dyes—that require nurses to learn a visual and sonic language of texture, pattern, and movement to assess and care for their patients. Lewis approaches the visual process as an effort to understand and safeguard those whom he depicts.