Kelsea LyonKelsea Lyon (b. 1991) is a Taos-based sculptor working in bronze. A former English teacher, Lyon brings a literary sense of rhythm and “flow” to a medium often coded as masculine—creating large-scale works that feel powerful yet delicate. Her process moves from metaverse modeling and 3D rendering to hand-finished bronze and natural patinas inspired by the high desert. Lyon began welding in 2020; a collaborative pandemic-era piece was later acquired by the City of Addison, Texas. In 2026 she debuts as a featured artist at Canyon Road Contemporary, presenting a standalone practice that is distinctly her own and that stands apart from her husband’s well-known work while enjoying mutual support. Raised in Dallas and trained as an English teacher, Kelsea Lyon came to sculpture through literature’s attention to cadence, clarity, and flow. In 2020 she taught herself to weld and began designing forms digitally; a joint pandemic-era work was soon acquired by the City of Addison, Texas. Lyon’s process pairs metaverse modeling and 3D rendering with the physicality of bronze plate, TIG welding, and hand-finished patinas that echo the changing colors of Taos. The resulting sculptures carry a delicate touch within a traditionally masculine medium, asserting a feminine presence at scale. Working on multiple pieces at once to keep the process joyful, she describes the studio as both a place of power and a positive emotional release. Artist Statement ~ I work in bronze to hold opposites together: power and delicacy, weight and flow. I design in the metaverse, render in 3D, and finish by hand—chasing colors found in Taos light and rust-born patinas. Each sculpture takes up space with grace, a feminine form emerging from a traditionally masculine medium. My pieces are imperfect on purpose. That’s where the beauty and the human story live.On permanence and purpose ~ “There’s something about sculpture that makes me and my problems feel insignificant, but in a beautiful way. My name is on that plaque, and it’ll be there longer than I am. That’s the part that gets me every time. I try to bring joy to people, to create something that outlives me. It wasn’t why I started sculpting, but that lasting impact—the idea that a piece of me is still out there—that’s a feeling I can’t describe.”On courage and transformation ~ “I was a teacher for years, and I loved it, but sculpture came into my life at a dark time. It became a release. Something positive to pour my energy into. I have extreme anxiety and ADHD, and I’m just a ball of words and energy all the time. Metal gave me a place to put that. It’s not about stress or perfection anymore; it’s about release, emotion, and joy. Being featured by a gallery feels surreal, but I remind myself it’s still about that same purpose: creating from emotion and finding peace in the process.”On feminine strength and inspiration ~ “I hope that any woman, or honestly, anyone who sees my work feels inspired. I’m 34, just beginning a new career, and yes, it’s intimidating. But like the metal itself, it’s about facing fear and shaping it into something strong and beautiful. The only thing holding you back is your mind. Once you quiet that, you can do anything. I want my daughter to grow up unafraid of the unknown, to see that taking risks is how you create a life.”On process and imperfection ~ “It takes at least five or six months to finish a piece. I find inspiration everywhere; from the red of a Taos tree to the way sunlight hits oxidized metal. Patinas are just controlled rust; it’s all natural. My sculptures are imperfect, and that’s what makes them beautiful. I never feel like something is truly done—it’s more about knowing when it’s ready for the world to see. Each one captures a moment in time, and I have to let it go.”On inspiration and Taos ~ “Taos is one of the most beautiful places in the world. The landscape is constantly changing color, and that’s what drives my patinas. The shop has huge bay doors, so it’s an inside-outside space. The sun actually changes how the metal reacts. I hike, I read, I look around—and sometimes inspiration comes from something random, like the way metal is bent on a VR headset at a Dallas arcade. That’s the beauty of it. You can find inspiration anywhere if you’re paying attention.”