The Wilds of an Inner Life

In her latest show with Chicago-based 33 Contemporary Gallery, figurative painter Ellen Starr Lyon blends still life and portraiture to evoke the quiet yet powerful moments in a woman’s everyday life

- Meg Daly

The show’s suggestive title—Flora and Fauna— hints at the elements Lyon uses to depict domestic scenes. Houseplants and a pet cat entwine with the human figures, their curves and shadows intermingling. The show includes self-portraits and portraits of others, and will be live exclusively online at 33 Contemporary’s Artsy site through May 31.

According to 33 Contemporary curator Didi Menendez, Lyons’ new series marks a departure in subject matter. For many years Lyon painted her children. Now they are grown and attending college, and Lyon has refocused on her empty nest. “Ellen’s focus has changed to her surroundings,” Menendez says. “Her cat makes an appearance and is representative of several poetic metaphors and subliminal messages. If you look deeply into the cat’s eyes, you may find Ellen looking back at you.”