NINA LYONS

NINA LYONS Biography

Nina Lyons was born in Saskatchewan, Canada, and emigrated to the United States, settling in the San Francisco Bay Area. She grew up surrounded by the artwork of her parents. She received her Master of Fine Arts from the California College of Arts and Crafts where she was fortunate to have studied with Viola Frey.

Although influenced by the California school of "Funk" ceramic sculpture, Lyons's work, which has an unpretentious spontaneity, is at the same time insightful, contemplative and focused. She uses images of chairs, vessels, ladders, and the female form in her painting and sculpture. Her drawings and paintings utilize the subtleties of earth tones, and when executed on her sculpture as on paper, they add a richly expressive, textural quality.

"One looks and gets a feeling of silence and timelessness, and even a sense that these images are detached from the ground they rest upon," writes poet Wendy Jeanne Burch of the artist's work. "It is an understanding I believe Lyons herself possesses, of an ever changing, restless human condition, coming to rest as a moth comes to a light, temporarily in a life made of dreams and ghosts."

She has participated in several group exhibitions including shows at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists' Gallery, at the Oakland Museum Collector's Gallery and at A New Leaf Gallery and Sculpturesite Gallery. Her figurative sculpture in bronze, clay and hand-cast glass can be found in private collections throughout the USA.

NINA LYONS Statement

My work is about the confluence of dream, archeology and memory, and the alchemy that emerges in this context.

The world we inhabit and especially the landscapes that surround us embody a sense of mystery. That mystery provides the ground on which my relationship with the physical landscape informs my work. I have mined these areas through my choice of material, color and form. I use figures, animals, vessels and dwellings to reference our connections to the natural world. I imagine these elements existing in the landscape where art lives - the space between dreams.

NINA LYONS Resumé

Solo and Featured Artist Exhibitions
2014 Harvest Inn New Sculpture Garden, St. Helena, CA
2014 “Flights of the Imagination Exhibition,” Taylor Blue Designs,  Berkeley, CA
2006 “Sculpture Invitational,” Oliver Art Center, CCA, Oakland, CA
2002 "The Artist Studio," Studio Tour Sponsored by A New Leaf Gallery, CA
1997 "Nina Lyons at Studio For," Oakland CA
1997 "Nina Lyons 'The Homestead Series,' ” Oakland, CA
1997 "Nina Lyons and Ann Weber," Joan Roebuck Gallery, Lafayette, CA
1992 “Five Artists,” New Ground Gallery, Oakland, CA
1991 “Sculpture,” San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists' Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1991 “Vessels,” Gallery Concord Invitational Concord, CA
1987 "Nina Lyons, MFA Exhibition," California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA

Group Exhibitions
2018 Jackson Grant Gallery, Ross, CA
2017 "Staff Picks," online exhibition, Sculpturesite Gallery, Glen Ellen, CA
2015 "25th Anniversary," Sculpturesite Gallery, Glen Ellen, CA
2013 “Nineteenth Annual Sculpture in the Garden,” The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CA
2013 “ORIGINS: Elemental Forms in Contemporary Sculpture,” Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA
2012 “HEADS UP!  The Human Head Interpreted by 7 Sculptors,” A New Leaf Gallery | Sculpturesite, Sonoma, CA
2011 San Francisco Bay Area Sculpture Garden opens to public, Berkeley, CA
2011 “Sculpture in the Garden,” The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CA
2011 “Animal Dreams - Animals as Visual Metaphors,” A New Leaf Gallery | Sculpturesite, Sonoma, CA
2011 “Art Space Orinda,” Extended Year-Long Public Arts Exhibition, Orinda, CA
2010  20th Anniversary Cirque de Sculpture, San Francisco, CA
2010 “Art Space Orinda,” Extended Year-Long Public Arts Exhibition, Orinda, CA
2009 “Body Works,” A New Leaf Gallery | Sculpturesite, Sonoma, CA
2009 Collectors Sculpture Garden “Spring Garden Book Signing,” Lafayette, CA
2009 “Menlo College Presents: Outside the Box, Inside the Frame,” Menlo College, Atherton, CA
2009 “An Evening with Alumni: Real Life Part II,” California College of Arts, Oakland, CA
2009 “Celebrate the Ceramic Art of Berkeley,” Leslie Ceramics, Berkeley, CA
2009 Ruth Bancroft Garden’s 15th Annual “Sculpture in the Garden,” Walnut Creek, CA
2008 “Poetry of Form,” book publication, Berkeley, CA
2008 “Narratives: Susannah Israel, Nina Lyons, Andrew Myers & Matthew Zupnick,” Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2008 “Enclosed Passage,” Los Medanos College Art Gallery, Pittsburg, CA
2007 “CCA Sculpture Selections,” Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2005 "Body Language: Figurative Works by Five Women Sculptors," Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2005 “Celebrating an Urban Oasis,” A New Leaf Gallery Berkeley, CA
2005 "Works on Paper," Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2005 “Vernissage,” Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2004 “Wind and Water,” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2004 “Dwelling," juried international competition and benefit event, Juror: Steven Oliver, A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2004 “Inner Workings: Staff Artists from Creative Growth Art Center,” Oakland Art Gallery, Oakland, CA
2003 "Terra Forma," a juried exhibition of ceramic sculpture, Arts Benecia Gallery, Benecia, CA
2003 "Secret Gardens of the East Bay," Park Day School, Oakland, CA
2003 "San Francisco Flower & Garden Show," Garden Design Magazine, San Francisco, CA
2003 "Sculpture & The 4 Elements," A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2003 "Focus on the Figure," contemporary figurative sculpture, A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2003 "Dreamworks Of The Contemporary Figure," Frostad Atelier The Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2003 Frostad Atelier, Grand Opening, Granite Bay, CA
2002 "A Scultpture Tour," The Giffen/Pisarra Collection, Lafayette, CA
2002 "Focus On The Figure," A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2002 "Water Visions 2002: 11th Annual Show of Contemporary Water Sculpture," A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2002 "Ceramics: Bay Area and Beyond," A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2001 “Website Premiere Opening,” Web Launch, A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2001 “The Figure Au Plein Air: Contemporary Figurative Sculpture,” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2001 “Water Visions 2001: 10th Annual Show of Contemporary Water Sculpture," A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2000 “10th Anniversary Show: Showcasing Sculptors Introduced During Each of the l0 Years,” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2000 “A Class Act,” Creative Growth Art Center, Oakland, CA
1999 “The Figure Au Plein Air: 1999,” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1999 “Water Visions 1999,” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1999 “Form and Function,” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1999 “Re-Collections,” California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA
1998 “The Figure Au Plein Air: Contemporary Figurative Sculpture," A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1998 “Water Visions ‘98: Contemporary Water Sculpture,” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1997 “Contemporary Figurative Sculpture,” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1997 “Figures in the Landscape,” San Francisco Landscape Garden Show, A New Leaf Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1997 “Water Visions '97: Contemporary Water Sculpture,” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1997 “Sit on Art '97: Furniture As Art,” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1996 “The Figure Au Plein Air: Contemporary Figurative Sculpture,” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1994 “The Art of Giving,” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1993 “Pairs, The Teaching Annual,” Creative Growth Art Center, Oakland, CA
1991 Oakland Museum Collector's Gallery, Oakland, CA
1990 “2 Dimensional Reality,” The Downtown Gallery, San Jose Art League, Juror: Mary Jane Jacobs, San Jose, CA
1990 "The Stockton Arts Commission and the Haggin Museum Stockton National V Print and Drawing Exhibition," Juror: Terri Co, Stockton, CA
1990 "Gallery House," Juried Exhibition by Giorgianna Lagoria, Palo Alto, CA
1990 “The Second Annual Concord Open,” Gallery Concord, Concord, CA
1990 "Berkeley Art Center Association Exhibition Part I," Jurors: Viola Frey, Chris Brown, Phil Linhares; Berkeley, CA
1989 "Fourth Annual Juried Show," Gallery Route One, Juror: Stephen Wirtz, Point Reyes, CA
1989 " ‘38" Auburn Arts; Juror: Janet T. Riesbach, Curator, Crocker Art Museum; Auburn, CA
1989 Gallery House, Juror: Joe Zirker, Palo Alto, CA
1988 “Annual Membership Show,” Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA
1988 “A New Direction,” Artspace National Show, Juror: April Quick, Sacramento, CA

Selected Commissions & Collections
2014 Private Commission, Berkeley, CA
2011 Private Commission, Napa, CA
2009 Giffen/Pisarra Commission, Lafayette, CA
2005 Giffen/Pisarra Commission, Frostad Atelier Foundry, Lafayette, CA
2003 Bronze Sculpture Commission, Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ

Permanent Collections
California College of Arts and Crafts, Ceramics Department, Oakland, CA
California College of Arts and Crafts, Library Collection, Oakland, CA

Selected Awards
2009 Honorable Mention Award, Bancroft Gardens, Walnut Creek, CA
1990 Sculpture Award, Berkeley Art Center Exhibition, Berkeley, CA
1989 Fourth Place: Drawing and Sculpture, Auburn Arts 38, Auburn, CA

Pulications, Media & Reviews
2014 “New Sculpture Garden at Harvest Inn,” St. Helena Star, September 2014.
2013 “Art Beneath the Open Sky,” Leaf Magazine.
2009 “Outside the Box, Inside the Frame,” exhibition review. Menlo Advantage Magazine, Palo Alto, CA.
2009 “Artspace Orinda,” Orinda News, Orinda, CA.
2008 Poetry of Form, book publication, Berkeley, CA.
2007 CCA Sculpture Selections Catalogue, Sculpturesite Gallery, Sonoma, CA.
2007 “CCA Selections” Review by Cariadne Margaret MacKenzie.
2006 Interior Design Magazine.
2005 A New Leaf Gallery Commemorative Book, limited edition celebrating 15 years in Berkeley.
2004 “One of a Kind Custom Works,” Robb Report Collection Magazine.
2003 “10 to Do: Sculpting the Elements,” with photo of “Drift.” Diablo Magazine.
2003 “Creating a Culture of the Imagination,” interview by Wendy Jeanne Burch.
2002 “Sculpture,” Art in America Guide to the Arts, April, 2002.
2002 “Four Artists Featured in Fall Shows at Frostad Atelier-The Gallery,” Art Shows – City of Sacramento,  Fall 2002.
2002 “Art Al Fresco,” feature on A New Leaf Gallery featuring “First Light” ceramic sculpture, San Francisco Chronicle, October 11, 2002.
2000 The Creative Process and the Art of Nina Lyons, Video Documentary.
1991 “Vessels,” at Gallery Concord, Contra Costa Times, May.
1989 Fourth Annual Juried Show Exhibition Catalogue, Gallery Route One, Point Reyes, CA.
1988 Masters of Fine Arts Catalogue, California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA.

Public Speaking & Lectures
2013 Berkeley Art Center, Panel Discussion, “Origins” Exhibition, Berkeley, CA
2014 City of Berkeley Public Art Commission, Halcyon Bird Sculpture Project Phase 1, Berkeley, CA
2009 “An Evening with Alumni: Real Life Part II,” California College of Arts, Oakland, CA
2002 Small Firm Architects Forum, Slide Presentation, Oakland, CA
2000 California College of Arts and Crafts, Slide Lecture, Ceramics Department Alumni, Oakland, CA
1993 “A Morning with the Artist,” Gallery Talk Gallery Concord, Joan Roebuck Gallery, Lafayette, CA

Education
M.F.A. California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA
Teaching Credential, University of California, Berkeley
B.A.: European History, San Francisco State University, CA