Thursday, August 11, 2011

OBJECT-ion Opening Reception Friday August 12

August 12th - September 18th, 2011

Reception:

Friday, August 12th, 6-9pm

Nationally exhibited artist and Florida panhandle native, Justin Lyons is a self-taught painter known for his mixed-media work. Lyons’ newest body of work, “OBJECT-ion” is a playful commentary on America’s consumer culture.

Using wit, humor and social stereotypes to convey messages, Lyons’ work reflects his personal thoughts and feelings about objects and their use. He contrasts images or text to draw out their multiple meanings. At first glance one may be intrigued in by a familiar childhood image like that of a popsicle or a bunny rabbit. Take a second or third look, and that same piece reveals a dark reality often ignored or simply not seen.

In his own words Lyons says, “I like to draw the viewer in with a childish feel or candy coated look to the work, and once they begin to bite, chew and digest it they see that maybe there's some meat to it as well.”

Lyons’ works in many mediums including wood (sometimes found), acrylic, house paint, spray paint, oil stick, epoxy resin and pencil. His compositions consist of multi-layered paint drippings, pencil scrawling and surface etchings.