Author Pages:
Biography:
“Observe, contemplate and imagine, then see anew: to interpret is to transform.”
The visually-compelling, imaginative works of artist and visual storyteller Lisa L. Cyr use symbolism, metaphor and allegory to stimulate curiosity, provoke thought and encourage further inspection. A poetic, rhythmic synthesis of drawing, painting, collage and assemblage, Cyr's visually tactile, mixed-media works are composed to collectively create a new reality with a more expressive and symbolic arrangement, transforming the ordinary to the extraordinary.
Navigating the twisted labyrinth of the creative mind, the artist journeys to the inner sanctuary of the mind: a sacred place where dreams and nightmares come to call. Straddling the edge between fantasy and reality, the imagination is set adrift and an epic voyage into the depths of the mind’s eye begins.
In Cyr’s world of the fantastic, the viewer enters a portal to mystical realms of the subconscious where supernatural beings, winged guardians and underworld deities coalesce in the shadowy places of the dark realm that beckon and the epic dreamscapes of the garden that await. Ethereal figures of feminine beauty are juxtaposed against dark femme fatales of the macabre in visually-compelling, provocative ways.
Visual tales of adventurous quests evoke transcendental experiences for those who are willing to enter into the pictorial drama. Through the multilayered narrative, we journey to a world beyond, where the awakened subconscious leaves the viewer spellbound and wanting more.
A graduate from The Massachusetts College of Art (BFA) and Syracuse University (MA), Cyr's artistic oeuvre of imaginative visual storytelling has been exhibited in museums and galleries, including traveling shows with the Society of Illustrators of New York and Los Angeles. Her work has been featured in magazines, books and online, including numerous features in Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art, Infected by Art, AcrylicWorks: The Best in Acrylic Painting and Incite: The Best in Mixed Media.
The artist is represented by IX Gallery, Abend Gallery and Beyond the Everyday Original Gallery. Her work is included in private collections across the globe as well as in the permanent collection of the Museum of American Illustration in New York City where she is a recipient of the prestigious Stevan Dohanos Award from the Society of Illustrators. Cyr is a lifetime artist member of the NYC Society of Illustrators.
As an author and storyteller, Cyr writes for many of the creative industry's leading art publications and has authored seven books on art and design, including the mixed-media bestsellers Experimental Painting and Art Revolution (Penguin Random House). Her podcast, Rediscovering Your Creative Self, is an audio series that focuses on developing a relationship with the creative spirit within, making daily lifestyle changes that enhance creativity.
Cyr teaches at the Hartford Art School MFA in Illustration Program, the Marywood University Masters with the Masters MFA Program and her own atelier on Patreon called Navigating the Labyrinth of the Creative Mind.
Speaking + Teaching Experience:
American Institute of Graphic Arts
The Society of Illustrators, NYC
The National Illustration Conference
Columbus Society of Communicating Arts
University of the Arts
The Artist Network University
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online
Florida Artists Group, Inc.
Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design
Eastern Connecticut State University
The Massachusetts College of Art & Design
New Hampshire Creative Club
Pratt Institute
Parsons School of Design
Savannah College of Art & Design
Kendall College of Art & Design
Southern Utah University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Syracuse University
Sage College of Albany
Kutztown University
New Jersey City University
The University of New Hampshire
The University of Kansas
Keene State College
Notre Dame College
NH Institute of Art
Visual Arts Passage
Studio Bridge
Rochester Institute of Technology
Delgado Community College
Sharon Arts Center
Northampton Community College
NYC Final Cut Pro
Rivier College
Notre Dame College
East Stroudsburg University
Ohio Tourism Bureau
Mohawk Valley Community College
Shanghai Normal School Cultural Exchange
The Institute of Art & Design at New England College
Hesser College