SUN DAYS
Exhibit opening 8/22

Lyons, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, is known for his evocative watercolor and oil paintings that capture the interplay of light and shadow in vibrant, unexpected scenes. A member of New York’s historic Salmagundi Art Club and named one of Watercolor Magazine’s 25 Artists to Watch, Lyons splits his time between Providence, where he teaches watercolor painting for RISD’s Continuing Education Program, and Provincetown.

“Provincetown is where I’ve experienced many of my Sun Days.” says Lyons “On these days, anything feels possible. I am inspired by the details of what these days look like: sun-kissed bodies drenched in sweat, cool blue waters, white-hot pavement, grass-green foliage, hot reds, yellow sunshine, and shadowed violets. Sun Days are the best days, the ones we work all year for.”

His work transcends traditional genres, focusing not on portraits or landscapes but on the essence of a scene, where shadows and a masterful sense of color bring everyday moments to life. Sun Days highlights his fascination with Provincetown’s pedicab community—a vibrant yet often overlooked subculture, primarily composed of J1 visa students from Bulgaria, who form a vital thread in the town’s cultural fabric. Lyons transforms the ordinary, including the utilitarian pedicab, into something extraordinary, inviting viewers to notice beauty in the overlooked.

“Michael’s work is anything but conventional,” says artist and curator Greg Salvatori “While Provincetown is often depicted through predictable seascapes and boats, Michael takes the road less traveled, celebrating the unexpected with a fresh perspective. His ability to elevate the mundane into something meaningful is why we’re so excited to showcase his work.”

He is represented exclusively by Greg Salvatori Gallery.