Keisha Lewis is an American author, creative director, entrepreneur, and personal development coach whose work explores reflection, discipline, and intentional living through writing, art, and guided self-inquiry. A Black transgender woman born and raised in Philadelphia, Lewis is known for her memoir Life Is a Game of Chess, her metaphysical work The Temperature of My Mind (The Noise, The Silence, and the Voice in Between), and her ritual-based lifestyle brand The Lewis Collective.
Her multidisciplinary body of work spans literature, visual art, product design, spiritual reflection, and community advocacy — all rooted in structure, ritual, and the preservation of self.
Early Life and Education
Born June 15, 1985, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lewis was raised in the North Philadelphia section of the city. Her adolescence included time at Roxborough High School, Pleasant Valley High School in the Poconos, and later Harvey Milk High School in New York City — an LGBTQ+-affirming environment partnered with the Hetrick-Martin Institute.
Her early experiences navigating racial isolation, identity, ballroom culture, and mentorship shaped the emotional depth and observational tone that later defined her writing and creative practice.
Public Health & Advocacy
Lewis began her professional career in HIV/AIDS research and outreach with the Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), bringing representation and lived experience to clinical spaces. Her advocacy and community engagement have included work with The Attic Youth Center, The Mazzoni Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the Philadelphia Police LGBTQ Liaison Committee, the New York Anti-Violence Project, and the University of Pennsylvania LGBT Center.
She has also served as a grant reviewer for the Gender Justice Fund, supporting initiatives advancing gender equity and trans liberation.
The Lewis Collective & Creative Practice
Founded in 2019, The Lewis Collective is the creative house of multidisciplinary artist and author K.M. Lewis. What began as a handcrafted body care brand has evolved into a multidisciplinary practice centered on visual art, fragrance, books, design, and storytelling—where every collection is approached as a work of art rather than simply a product.
Today, Lewis creates immersive experiences through original paintings, assisted visual compositions, fine fragrance, atmosphere candles, limited-edition objects, and written works. Each piece is developed through a philosophy of intentional design, where symbolism, emotion, memory, and aesthetics intersect.
Rather than separating art from everyday life, The Lewis Collective presents creativity as a lived practice. Whether expressed through a canvas, a fragrance collection, a publication, or a carefully designed object, each work invites reflection, curiosity, and deeper connection—transforming ordinary moments into intentional experiences.
Authorship & Literary Work
Lewis writes across memoir, fiction, philosophy, and reflective nonfiction. Her work often moves beyond traditional genres, using storytelling as a way to examine identity, memory, resilience, transformation, and the complexities of lived experience.
Selected Works
- Life Is a Game of Chess
- Wicked Tongue, Wet Prayer
- The Imaginary Friend Manifesto
- The Temperature of My Mind (published as Dr. K.M. Lewis)
Her growing body of work reflects distinct seasons of personal and creative evolution, with each publication serving as both documentation and discovery.
Ministry & Honorary Recognition
Lewis is an ordained minister through the Universal Life Church and holds honorary recognitions including Doctor of Metaphysical Humanities and Doctor of Divinity.
Her ministry is expressed less through traditional religious leadership and more through intentional conversation, creative practice, and reflective authorship. Across her books, artwork, and public projects, Lewis explores spirituality as an ongoing process of awareness, healing, accountability, and becoming.
Transcended Truth
Lewis is the creator and host of Transcended Truth, an independent interview and conversation series where art, culture, philosophy, and lived experience meet.
Rather than pursuing performance or controversy, the series creates space for thoughtful dialogue, allowing guests and ideas to unfold with honesty, curiosity, and intention. Each episode contributes to a growing archive of conversations centered on reflection, creativity, and the human experience.
Mental Health & Care Work
Lewis's years working in residential behavioral health and recovery services deepened her understanding of trauma, healing, advocacy, and community care.
Following the murder of Dominique "Rem'mie" Fells, she was interviewed by The Philadelphia Inquirer, speaking publicly about grief, visibility, and the emotional realities experienced by marginalized communities.
"It's not just about therapy. It's about being seen."
Personal Life & Legacy
Lewis lives in Philadelphia with her dog, Bruno.
Through visual art, fragrance, books, conversation, and thoughtfully designed objects, she continues to build The Lewis Collective—a creative house where every project contributes to a living archive of reflection, imagination, and intentional design.
Her work invites people not simply to purchase an object, but to experience an idea, a feeling, or a moment of recognition.
"I don't sell products. I create experiences that people can live with."
— K.M. Lewis