Ruth Ava Lyons was born in Cleveland, Ohio and holds degrees from Kent State University and Cranbrook Academy of Art. She is a Fulbright fellowship recipient and has taught at several colleges and universities. The paintings of Ruth Ava Lyons have been exhibited in over 100 exhibitions throughout the country. She has received several grants and awards, and her work can be found in numerous private, corporate, institutional, and museum collections. A few select collections include the Metropolitan Museum Of Art, Hearst Corporation, Bank of America, New Orleans Museum of Art, National Museum for Women In The Arts, Philip Morris Headquarters USA, SAS Institute, The Federal Reserve Bank and others. Ruth is the recipient of several residencies in nature preserves where she can experience firsthand mans impact on fragile ecosystems that are the inspiration for most of her work. In 2018, Ruth was awarded a prestigious Creative Renewal Fellowship from the Arts and Science Council. Ruth Lyons and her partner sculptor, Paul Sires have also recently completed an 8 year project for a light rail station in Charlotte, NC. Both artists are responsible for pioneering Charlottes’ Noda Arts District”, and owned Center Of The Earth Gallery, an award winning commercial art gallery for 24 years. She is an avid hoop and fire dancer, scuba diver, and motorcyclist. Artist Statement: Most of my work is inspired by ecosystems in nature that are threatened by man, yet I try to bring hope and beauty within the concept to positively address these issues. These new works are a celebratory and special ouevre that manifested itself after a year of covid chaos.I felt a strong desire to make a reference to the human condition in a spiritually uplifting gesture which is the “Spring Series”.