Georges River Council is proud to present Living Abodes, a solo exhibition by local artist Margaret Lyons, at the Hurstville Museum & Gallery. Opening on Saturday, 16 November, Living Abodes invites the public to explore a series of paintings that capture the warmth, connection, and quiet beauty of domestic life.
Margaret Lyons, the 2023 Georges River Local Artist Prize winner, is known for her evocative oil paintings that blend portraiture and still life. Her work draws inspiration from her own family history, transforming ordinary domestic moments into visual narratives that speak of belonging and memory. In Living Abodes, Lyons showcases her talent for elevating everyday spaces into places of artful connection, casting figures and objects bathed in the glow of tender, thoughtful light.
A particular highlight of this exhibition is Margaret's use of her family's collection of analogue photographs. "I have an extensive collection of photographs which I have felt inspired to eventually paint. The process of rummaging through my parents' and grandparents' collection of old film photos has greatly inspired my recent work," she explains. This deeply personal approach results in works that evoke both nostalgia and the timeless, emotional resonance of analogue photography.
Through Living Abodes, Margaret explores the notion of home as a space that holds us in the present moment and enriches our daily lives - a counterpoint to the digital distractions that can often dominate contemporary life. Her pieces present home as a source of comfort, connection, and revitalisation.