Growing up with parents who were artists, Chris Lyons was always surrounded by art, music, and “creative magic.” His artistic childhood inspired him to study communication design and illustration at the University of Buffalo, where he graduated with a B. F.A. in 1981.

Lyons gained his first professional experience as an intern for iconic graphic designer Milton Glaser in New York. From there he launched a career in freelance design and illustration, working with clients such as The United States Postal Service, Petagram, The U.S. Open, TIME, Target, and The New York Times. He describes his artistic style as “idealized and optimistic, with a slightly painterly feel to it.”

Lyons loves teaching and is an adjunct professor in the Schools of Design and Industrial Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology. In his spare time, Chris shovels snow, skates on the Erie Canal, and plays pick-up basketball, which fuels his competitive spirit. Lyons lives in Rochester, NY.