Charles Lyons

Charles Lyons, is a Pittsburgh based mixed media artist whose work celebrates Diasporic Joy through bold color, rich texture, and powerful storytelling. Rooted in the history and culture, his paintings explore themes of ancestry, community, Black love, resilience, and collective memory, weaving together acrylics with materials such as beads, buttons, leather, yarn, and cowrie shells to create deeply layered narratives. Through portraits, silhouettes, and symbolic imagery, Lyons transforms everyday moments into visual archives that honor the past while imagining a vibrant future. His mission is to create art that is accessible, sparks conversation, and reminds people of the beauty, strength, and joy that connect communities across the African diaspora.