Val Lyle
Artist Studio, V.G. Lyle
About the Artist and Artist Statement
Biography and Vita
Click here to read about Val Lyle's AiPP Award
Artist Statement for “Feminine Entwinement”
People's Choice Award Winner, Art in Public Places 2008-9
This sculpture is made from part of a tugboat rope I collected while living in Manhattan, NY. The rope as a metaphor entered my work about 1987, when I was pondering the influence of Appalachia on my artistic aesthetic. It continues to convey much of what I think about; what is my “life-line”, what effect my “heritage binding” with this region has on me, what “ties me down” for better or worse, what keeps me together, and is it possible to always tell the difference? I look for ways to make sculpture more approachable. Using common materials in an uncommon way, and using a figurative reference help to accomplish that in this piece. I muse at the awesome strength of a tiny tug boat that keeps the great ships from running aground, as a reference to the tall strong confident feminine figure that has just tossed a scarf across her shoulders facing the wind.
Artist Biography
Born in nearby Johnson City, Val Lyle grew up in Knoxville, TN longing to find out what was going on “out in the real world”. She spent much of her adult life in the cities of Honolulu, Phoenix, and Sarasota, FL where she earned her BFA in sculpture at the Ringling School of Art and Design, and more recently New York City, where she credits much of her artistic development. When given the opportunity to move back to East Tennessee, Lyle took it.
“I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve been able to go see some of the world, develop a deep appreciation for our unique area, and return to enjoy living in it,” says Lyle.
Lyle earned her MFA while maintaining the family home place in Bristol. She has exhibited extensively and continues to teach art courses and workshops. Lyle is a full time studio artist working in bronze, clay, ceramic paper clay, oil pastels, drawing, photography and mixed media. Lyle’s sculpture was recently chosen by Antoine Guerrero, director and curator of P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center NYC, a part of The Museum of Modern Art NYC. Lyle will unveil a life-sized bronze sculpture in downtown Knoxville in 2009. Her electronic MFA Thesis was one of the first in the country and is still used today as a primary example by many Graduate Schools, and can be seen at www.vallyle.com by clicking on the download catalog button, or http://etd-submit.etsu.edu/etd/theses/available/etd-0601101-132934/unrestricted/LyleV0822a.pdf
www.ValLyle.com This link has extensive images and information about ceramic paper clay.
Artist Vita / Resume
Education
M.F.A., East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 2001, with Honors.
Electronic Thesis entitled “Figurative Sculpture in Paper Clay” was one of the first electronic Fine Arts Thesis on the web.
B.F.A., Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota, FL 1993.Concentrations in Sculpture and Printmaking, with Honors.
Certificate in the Fine Arts, Ringling School of Art and Design, 1989
Additional studies at Baruch College, Manhattan NY 1992-1993, and State Technical Institute at Knoxville, TN.
Chemistry major 1980-1981
Public Art Commissions
Light of Hope, an outdoor, life-sized bronze sculpture for CASA, Court Appointed Special
Advocates for Children. Unveiling in downtown Knoxville TN in 2009. (Currently awaiting foundry casting)
Public Art Exhibits
Art in Public Places, Juried by Paul Ha, Director of the Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis (the Contemporary) 2008-2009
Visiting Artist and Guest Lecturer
"Ceramic Paper Clay Techniques" The University of Wisconsin, Madison 2007
Guest Artist for Senior Fine Arts Student Retreat, Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota FL 1995
Selected Solo Exhibitions
"Sages and Sanctuaries", Slemp Gallery at MECC, Big Stone Gap VA 2009
Arts Depot, Abingdon VA 2009
“From the Farm”, recent paintings and prints, Virginia Highlands Community College 2007
“The Art of the Line” drawings, Northeast State Community College 2006
“Solo Opening of The Figurative Gallery of Contemporary Art”, 2004 La Quinta, CA 2004
“Retrospective” Johnson City Arts Council, TN 2002
“A Difference of Opinion” Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, Carroll Reece Museum, ETSU 2001 “Genesis” North Gallery, Ringling School of Art, Sarasota, FL 1988
“Works In Progress” Virginia Intermont College, Bristol, VA
“Storefront Windows Installations” Somewhere Else Restaurant, State Street, Bristol, TN 1997
"Paintings from the Homestead" Caliban's Restaurant, 360 Third Ave., New York, NY
"From the Bar" Solo Print and Drawing Exhibition 360 Third Ave., New York, NY 1995
“Assembly Required III” Zazoo Club, New York, NY 1992
“Snare & Pop” Solo exhibition, Ise Cultural Foundation in cooperation with 555 Broadway, New York, NY 1992
"Binding and Compression" Sarasota, FL 1989
Selected Juried Exhibitions
“Female(s) Form(s)” curated by Adam Justice, William King Regional Arts Museum, Abingdon, VA 2008-2009
"Art in Public Places" juried by Paul Ha, The Contemporary Museum of Art in St. Louis, MO 2008-2009 “The Sesqui Seven: E&H Celebrates the Bristol Sesquicentennial”, juried by Mary Haviland, Emory & Henry College, The 1912 Gallery, Emory VA 2006 “Who We Are: The Figure in the 21st Century” juried by Connie Bostic at The Upstairs Gallery, Tryon, NC 2005
“Positive-Negative 23”, juried by Antoine Guerrero, Director of PS-1, NY. Slocumb Galleries, ETSU 2008
Tri-State Sculptors Exhibition, Carroll Reece Museum, Johnson City TN 2008
“Adjuncstaposition”, Slocumb Galleries, Johnson City, TN 2007
“3 Wavelengths of Color”, Nelson Fine Art Center, Johnson City, TN 2006
“Art and Spirituality”, Starving Artist and 153 West Booksellers, Abingdon, VA 2004
“Appalachian Corridors” juried by Eleanor Heartney, Inaugural Exhibition of the Sunrise Museum in Charleston, WV 2003
“3.10 Exhibition”, juried by Peter Suschin, England in Johnson City, TN 2002
“The Bank Show”, juried by Hodges Taylor Gallery from Charlotte, NC Johnson City, TN 2001
National Conference on Education in the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), “Juried Regional Show” Rock Hill Arts Council, SC 2001
“Works In Progress” Virginia Intermont College, Bristol, VA, 1998
“Storefront Windows Installations” Somewhere Else Restaurant, State Street, Bristol, TN 1997
"Exposure and Vulnerability" National Outdoor Sculpture Juried Exhibition by the New York State Parks Commission and the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, Empire Fulton Ferry State Park, NY 1993, 1994, 1995
“Underground” Two-Artist exhibition, Fourth Street, New York, NY 1993
“Snare & Pop”, Ise Cultural Foundation in cooperation with 555 Broadway, New York, NY 1992
“Assembly Required III” Zazoo Club, New York, NY 1992
A.I.R. Open Group Exhibition Soho, New York, NY 1992
Showcase, Two Artist Exhibition by the America-Japan Art Association, Ise Cultural Foundation, and the Soho Art House, 555 Broadway, New York, NY 1991
"Group of Five" New works exhibition, Cork Gallery at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 1991
“Assembly Required II” Kampo Cultural Center, Juried exhibition of five artists, Soho, New York, NY 1991
"Assembly Required" Installation, Broome Street Gallery, New York, NY 1991
"Nude Show" Invitational group exhibition, SixToSix Gallery New York, NY 1990
"Binding and Compression" Sarasota, FL 1989
"Emerging Artists" Juried group exhibition, Voorhees Gallery, Sarasota, FL 1988
Longboat Key Art Association Juried sculpture exhibition, Sarasota, FL 1988
"Best of Ringling" Juried by Dr. Diane Lesko, Curator of Collections, Museum of Fine Art, St. Petersburg, FL 1988
Studied with these Master Figurative Sculptors
Richard Notkin 2007, Stephen De Staebler; 2004, Sergi Isupov 2002, Patti Warishina 2002, Doug Jeck 2002, Paula Rice 2000, San Francisco Sculpture Conference 1995, International Sculpture Conference, 1995, Chesterwood sculptors workshop 1994
Bibliography
“Female(s) Form(s) Catalog essay by Adam Justice, William King Regional Arts Center 2008
“The Potter’s Shed” on line ceramics magazine, January 2008
“World Dictionary of Ceramic Art and Artists” by Steven Goldate, Melbourne, Australia, published by A&C Black, Great Britain 2007
“Art in America Guide to Participating Galleries and Artists” 2006, 2005, 2004
“Who’s Who in America”, Marquis Publication 2006, 2007, 2008
“Highlander Magazine”, July/August 2006, Photos and reviews of The Bristol Sesqui Seven Exhibition at Emory & Henry College.
Ceramics Today “Website of the Week” February 11th, 2005 (ceramicstoday.com)
“Desert Art Scene” Western US Art journal, article 2005
Electronic Thesis presented at The International Conference of Graduate School Deans as an exemplary example of use of new technologies, 2001, 2002, 2003
Feature Television segment, Mark Hilton TV 5, The Future of technologies and art education, 2001
Brooklyn newspaper article, including outdoor sculpture picture 1992
“Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities”, 1987, 1989
Art in America outstanding student artist 1988
Featured artist Annette Schulman TV show Sarasota, FL 1988
Publications
“Art Basel Miami Beach”, electronic article in “A” Magazine for the Arts 2007
"Figurative Sculpture in Paper Clay", an ebook in PDF format located at Figurative Sculpture in Paper Clay
“Printed Matter” artists book at DIA in NYC
Distinctions
“People’s Choice Award” for the outdoor sculpture competition “AiPP Art in Public Places”, Bristol, TN 2008-2009, Juried by Paul Ha
Chosen to represent the City of Bristol in the Bristol Sesquicentennial Exhibition at The 1912 Gallery at Emory & Henry College
Gold Addy of Excellence for “The Mockingbird”, an award winning student arts and literary magazine produced at East Tennessee State University. 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Full Scholarship as studio assistant in Ceramics at Penland School of Crafts, Fall 2006
Who’s Who in America, 2006, 2007, 2008
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society 2000
New York “Artist’s Space” Grant 1991
Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges 1989, 1987
The Binney & Smith Outstanding Fine Arts Student Scholarship, 1988
Richard and Virgina Crossley Scholarship 1988
Ethel and Stanley Glen Scholarship 1987
National Society of Arts & Letters, Honolulu, HI, Careers in Art Awards 1984
Conferences / Symposia
Sculptural Objects and Functional Art SOFA, Chicago, 2008 and 2004
Art Basel Miami Beach, 2006
National Council on Education in the Ceramic Arts NCECA, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2001
College Art Association CAA 2004
“Who’s Who in America”, Marquis Publication 2006, 2007, 2008
Ceramics Today “Website of the Week” February 11th, 2005 (ceramicstoday.com)
“Desert Art Scene” Western US Art journal, article 2005
Electronic Thesis presented at The International Conference of Graduate School Deans as an exemplary example of use of new technologies, 2001, 2002, 2003
Feature Television segment, Mark Hilton TV 5, The Future of technologies and art education, 2001
Brooklyn newspaper article, including outdoor sculpture picture 1992
“Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities”, 1987, 1989
Art in America outstanding student artist 1988
Featured artist Annette Schulman TV show Sarasota, FL 1988
Publications
“Art Basel Miami Beach”, electronic article in “A” Magazine for the Arts 2007
"Figurative Sculpture in Paper Clay", an ebook in PDF format located at Figurative Sculpture in Paper Clay
“Printed Matter” artists book at DIA in NYC
Distinctions
“People’s Choice Award” for the outdoor sculpture competition “AiPP Art in Public Places”, Bristol, TN 2008-2009, Juried by Paul Ha
Chosen to represent the City of Bristol in the Bristol Sesquicentennial Exhibition at The 1912 Gallery at Emory & Henry College
Gold Addy of Excellence for “The Mockingbird”, an award winning student arts and literary magazine produced at East Tennessee State University. 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Full Scholarship as studio assistant in Ceramics at Penland School of Crafts, Fall 2006
Who’s Who in America, 2006, 2007, 2008
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society 2000
New York “Artist’s Space” Grant 1991
Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges 1989, 1987
The Binney & Smith Outstanding Fine Arts Student Scholarship, 1988
Richard and Virgina Crossley Scholarship 1988
Ethel and Stanley Glen Scholarship 1987
National Society of Arts & Letters, Honolulu, HI, Careers in Art Awards 1984
Conferences / Symposia
Sculptural Objects and Functional Art SOFA, Chicago, 2008 and 2004
Art Basel Miami Beach, 2006
National Council on Education in the Ceramic Arts NCECA, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2001
College Art Association CAA 2004
Professional Affiliations
Tri-States Sculptors Society, NCECA National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, American Potters Council, ACC American Craft Council, CAA College Art Association, SECAC Southeastern College Art Conference, TACA Tennessee Association of Craft Artists, NCFAS North Carolina Folk Art Society President 2006, Vice Pres. 2005, Board Member 2007-2004, Charter Member, Women’s Museum of Art, Washington, DC
Professional Service
Committee Member, "A!" Magazine for the Arts publication, 2008- present
Board Member, Arts Advisory Board to William King Regional Arts Museum 2007- present
Board Member, Community Advisory Board to Virginia Highlands Community College 2007- present
President, North Carolina Folk Art Society 2006, Vice president, North Carolina Folk Art Society 2005, Board member, North Carolina Folk Art Society, 2004
Created a public outdoor sculpture project on the grounds of William King Regional Art Museum in conjunction with The Virginia Highlands Festival, fall 2004
Began Outdoor Sculpture Garden at VHCC Virginia Highlands Community College, spring 2004
Time Arts Committee, Knoxville Museum of Art, 1999-2001
