Eileen Lyons, an artist based in South Florida, is deeply rooted in a generational practice of creative expression. Having spent over 25 years as an artist and arts educator in Washington, DC, her work was uniquely shaped during her painting studies at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design. It was here that she absorbed subtle influences from the Washington Color School, particularly through the work of Sam Gilliam and Alma Thomas.

Born and raised on Long Island, NY, Lyons developed an early connection to the sea, drawing and internalizing the natural landscapes surrounding her. As a teen, her family moved to South Florida where she continued to interact with inlets, canals, limestone reefs and fragile coastal ecosystems. Lyons earned a BFA in painting from St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, marking a strong foundation for her formal training as an artist.

Post-graduation, Lyons moved to Germany, where she accepted a civilian position as a cartographer/draftsperson for the U.S. Department of Defense. This experience was profoundly impactful as it allowed her to view terrain from a helicopter seat and guided her ability to translate the world through land division, mapping, topography and aerial perspective. She became acutely aware of natural and human built borders across the European landscape as well as openings and clearings.

After working in Germany for five years, Lyons moved to Washington, DC where she earned an MA in Visual Art/Museum Studies from American University. Her artwork continued to develop through master’s-level painting courses at Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, complemented by educational certification from the University of Virginia. Lyons dedicated years to arts education in Washington, DC.

In 2018, Lyons returned to her roots in South Florida, setting up her studio in Jupiter. Now fully immersed in painting, she continues to share her knowledge through teaching adult painting classes. Lyons' educational experiences include being a Teaching Artist at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC and leading workshops at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, FL.

Lyons has been awarded painting residencies in various coastal locations, including Maine, Spain, and a recent month-long retreat in Ireland at Cill Rialaig Arts Centre in Ballinskelligs, County Kerry. She is creating a new body of work based on her time spent in Ireland. Lyons’ work is widely exhibited and is held in numerous private and corporate collections across the United States, Canada, and Ireland.