Meet Christine Lyon | Visual Artist & Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Lyon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m from Los Angeles, California. Growing up, my mother was a costume designer for film, theater and television. It was such a fantastical experience to be a kid in this environment of make believe; following my mom around hot trailers and studio backlots. I am certain my love of the figure began admiring my mother’s costume figure drawing: these beautiful illustrated women on the void of the paper, emerging wearing detailed fabrics, the focus on the character and nothing else.

As an only child, this wasn’t the only way I was influenced by movies, television and fashion. As the occasionally latch-key kid, I was drawn to the TV and books. In a way, I was raised by media. I became easily immersed in fiction narratives. In our house, sometimes we even measured time in movies, “I’ll be back home in two Harriet the Spy’s,” my mother would say to me when she went to work without me. As an artist, though film is not my medium, I believe there is cinematic quality to my painting and drawing style that I believe I owe to this special upbringing. While media is such an interesting lens to examine culture, I have found that in my art practice, I am also looking to media to turn inward, investigating my self, my ego, and my family history.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
If painting were the written word, I believe figurative painting would be the novel. I love the narrative potential of a figure or still life painting: a study of a moment, a gesture, a shadow, a glow, or an expression. The narratives I craft borrow from stories in western media and art: stories and characters I have seen repeated and appropriated, and in which I see myself, for the better and for the worse.

Though my work is very self-referential, I am also investigating themes, genres and communities with which I identify. The figures in my work are an amalgam of myself, film ingenues and reclining female nudes throughout the cannon of art and media. Using this figure, I create scenes about loss, unease and sickness. Oddly enough, I was developing these motifs prior to the pandemic, but relate to the current era in ways I had never imagined.

Additionally, the innate stillness of a painting or drawing has become a metaphor in its own right that highlights themes within the imagery. In a time that desperately calls for action, I am interested in the freeze response to being overwhelmed, the uphill battle to fight that catatonic feeling in the face of high anxiety, and who that inertia ends up hurting: ourselves, but also our community. I believe these themes are especially resonate with the women who are subject to the paintings, movies and books from which I am inspired. In grappling with the “ingénue,” the “reclining nude,” the “bather,” or the “pin-up,” I contend with the appeal of her lethargy, and the performance, versus the reality, of relaxation, distress, and apathy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would have to start with a tour of my favorite museums: the LACMA and the Norton Simon. LACMA has a large collection of works from ancient indigenous art to contemporary art locally and abroad. I love the curation at the LACMA. Norton Simon has a much smaller collection but is quite the hidden gem for Impressionist, Expressionist, Dutch Masters, Religious and Modern Art. I love spending time in their sun soaked garden with the Alberto Giacometti and Henry Moore sculptures, or, when it gets too hot outdoors, meditating in front of giant Sam Francis triptych. There is a lovely collection of Degas paintings and bronze casts that are truly inspiring as well.

After visiting the LACMA and Norton Simon, I would have to take my friend to see Leiminspace in Chinatown. With a rotating exhibition or contemporary artists, this intimate space is alway so fun, colorful and welcoming. After, I would hightail it to South Pasadena before traffic hits, or perhaps take the Gold line Metro that goes between Pasadena and Downtown quite easily (which I find surprising for a town like LA that is not necessarily known for its public transit). In South Pasadena, I would take my friend to Two Kids Coffee, which has unfortunately been take out only during the pandemic, but hopefully will return to being one of my favorite places to sit and sketch. My artist friend Celia Sutton (@infinitewynn on Instagram) and I have had sketching playdates there before and it has always been a delight.

After that, I would probably suggest that we make a trip to with Cacao Mexicatessen in Eagle Rock for some amazing tacos and guacamole. If we’re not completely dead after that jam packed day, I might have to take my friend to some gimmicky Hollywood bars because I can be a bit of a sucker for that kind of thing. Either Good Times at Davey Waynes or No Vacancy. However I find these days I am spending more time outdoors than anywhere else, taking advantage of the many hiking trails LA has to offer: the Angeles Crest National Forest by Altadena, to Griffith Park and Laurel Canyon in Hollywood. Especially over the past two years, I am eager to share these beautiful park vistas with visitors.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am definitely who I am today because of the support and guidance I have received from just talented artists and mentors like Erik Parra, Sarah Thibault, Christine Wang, Angela Hennessy, Karla Wozniak and Yvette Dibos. Their guidance in the field of Painting and Education has opened doors for me that are invaluable. I learned so much about color, process and art history from them but also about building my career as an artist. From theory to practice, these artists generously shared so much wisdom with me for which I am forever grateful. I also owe a debt of gratitude to my family who have always believed in my craft even in times where I doubted myself. The resilience and boundless love they have shown not only me but each other and their community in the face of adversity is endlessly inspiring. My cousin Jocelyn truly amazes me and inspires me to be better for myself and my community everyday. In addition to being a talented and conscientious designer, she has built her own non-profit, “Black Earth United,” lifting up Black Portlanders with inclusive outdoor education. As her work with the Design Museum in Boston ties her more closely with my trade, we have enjoyed conversations on art and culture which has strengthened our bond and understanding of each other.

Website: www.christinelyonart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinelyonart/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinelyonart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinelyonart

Other: https://www.riseart.com/artist/114936/christine-lyon Representation by RiseArt