Anna Lyle

Personal Pronouns

She/They

Describe what you do for work and how your experience with it has been.

My work with Artwork Archive requires wearing a few different hats, which I love! I've been really enjoying working in different capacities and learning lots of new skills. I host and present educational webinars for artists, support artists in their artwork inventory management to help them further succeed in their career as an artist, and I'm starting to take on more writing and artist interviewing opportunities.

Aside from all these exciting work opportunities with my day job, I'm also continuing in my art practice and exhibiting and sharing my work both locally and nationally. It's definitely a balancing act and one that I'm still working to master. But I really enjoy it!

How did you get your job?

I have been a big fan of Artwork Archive for several years and used their platform for my own artwork inventory and career management. I've been following them on social media and subscribed to their newsletters. It was there that I saw they were hiring, and I immediately contacted them.

How did you hear about MCAD?

A deep dive research when on the hunt for the right grad school program for me.

Why did you choose MCAD for your MFA?

I love that the program is mentor-based/centric. I have always wanted to go to art school but had already been exhibiting my work nationally for several years. I specifically wanted to find a program that I could personalize to my needs as well as introduce me to concepts and practices that I wasn't familiar with yet.

Who was your mentor and what was your relationship like?

Michael Banning & Russ White - wonderful, wonderful mentors! I learned so much from both of them and always felt supported and encouraged by our conversations.

Describe the work that you make.

Formally speaking, I work with traditional medium - oil paint, graphite, charcoal, oil pastel, etc. - to create contemporary forms using both representational and abstract approaches. I love using organic forms to visually describe the human body and bodily function in conjunction with mark marking and distorted anatomy and abstract forms.

Best thing you ever found on the free shelf?

Super cute drinking glasses - still have them!

Favorite MCAD facility?

The library!

What did you enjoy most about your MFA experience?

The community! I made friends for life and truly was such a magical experience. Although it was exhausting and difficult at times to balance it all, I look back on it with the fondest of memories.

What advice do you have for current MCAD students and/or artists at the beginning of their creative careers?

I'm not just saying this because I'm on the Artwork Archive team, but truly - start tracking your art now for all inventory and archiving purposes. Document what the art is, where it's been, where it's sold, who it's sold to, all your contacts related to your career, all your network contacts and locations, etc. It will save you so much time in the long run and help you maintain those connections. It also always helps to keep the "business side" of your art professional for your collectors and those in your network for further success.

Also, just keep making stuff. Make lots of stuff. Make good stuff, make bad stuff.

What would you tell students considering pursuing an MFA degree?

I recommend having a clear picture in your mind of what you hope this degree will help you with in the future. For me, I wanted and needed to pushed conceptually in my work and wanted to practice and learn more on how to talk about my work when exhibiting and showing it to collectors and curators. Practice with public speaking and learning how to authentically talk about my work was a huge learning curve and one that has been invaluable to me. So be sure you know what your needs and wants are when searching for an MFA program.