Born in Fort Collins, Colorado, Sydney Lemmon is a third-generation artist. She grew up with her mom being an art teacher where she received guidance in drawing, painting and pottery. She studied Video Game Design and Studio Art at Texas A&M University, where she was mentored by Professor Felice House. In 2024 she studied in Florence, Italy for 4 months focusing on painting abstracted lemons. Her work stems from her fascination with color theory and the emotional impact of light and shadow, which affects her work of all subject matter.
This exhibition explores the world of cats in little hats and the environments they inhabit. Each subject was carefully styled, often with the help of generous treats, capturing moments of personality, humor, and perhaps a touch of discontent. Sydney Lemmon’s love of animals shines through in every painting, reflecting the quiet companionship they offer. Cats in Hats invites viewers to reconnect with the comfort and familiarity of their own pets.
As a bonus Sydney has included some of her work from her senior capstone. In the pieces Evil Eyes and Mugged, she was fascinated with the concept of making her work glow. These paintings capture the instant when an emotion flashes through someone's eyes, revealing a deeper layer of their identity—whether it be joy, hope, envy, or anger. Inspired by photographic effects such as lens flares and red-eye, she translates these emotional flashes through bold, vibrant underpaintings that subtly emerge in her subjects’ eyes and other key details. The movement and unpredictability of these photographic effects mirror the shifting nature of friendships, security, and self-discovery, manifesting as thick, expressive brushstrokes on canvas. She is particularly drawn to the interplay of complementary underpainting colors, such as red and green, which bleed into surrounding areas of the composition, influencing its overall atmosphere. Through this technique, she aims to visually capture the aura of a person, transforming their presence into a dynamic interplay of color and form.