July 18 – October 18, 2020
“I use my sculptures as a way to make people smile and to offer an escape from the regular pressures of daily life. I give them the opportunity to transform themselves to a world of imagination – to a fun and happy place, at least for a short while.” – Peter Anton

In this playful exhibition, viewers will be amazed by Peter Anton’s oversized,  sculptures of sweets. The Connecticut-based Anton, who has been reproducing large-scale sweets in art since the 1990s, is interested in the range of meanings and emotions held by food and its appeal to the senses. Giant chocolates, melting ice-cream confections, and other treats reveal how the artist uses humor, scale, irony, and intensity to, as he states, “lure, charm, tease, disarm, and surprise” the viewer.

Spread out over three galleries, this delight-filled exhibition features hyperrealistic, mouth-watering creations. Sweet Dreams: Confectionery Sculpture showcases new pieces created specifically for the exhibition, along with some of Anton’s most notable work. It offers a colorful and glorious array of festively decorated donuts with sprinkles, delectable ice cream cones and giant cakes on pedestals, along with other sweet treats, designed to entice food enthusiasts and confectionery aficionados alike. [Read more…]

February 14 – April 11, 2020
*Extended through August 2, 2020

This engaging exhibit highlights the lives of five exceptional residents of New London County, past and present—attorney Lonnie Braxton, Rev. Florence Clarke, Sonalysts Board member Donetta Hodge, Coast Guard Commander (Ret.) Merle Smith, and 19^th century freed slave and teacher Ichabod Pease. Stories of Resilience showcases their determination, bravery and strength in the face of personal and systemic racism. Developed from the Jewish Federation of Eastern CT’s Encountering Differences Program, the exhibit paints a picture of remarkable successes in the face of daunting obstacles through personal photographs, artifacts, and video testimonies.

In the press:
The Day: Resilience in the face of racism: Exhibition at Lyman Allyn in New London focuses on the extraordinary lives and impact of five local people
Hartford Courant: From burning crosses to everyday slights, pervasive racism documented in New London exhibit

This exhibition is generously supported in part by the Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, Bank of America, Trustee. We extend a special thank you to Todd Gipstein for creating all of the visual display panels and videos for this exhibition. [Read more…]

January 31 – May 10, 2020

The New Haven Paint & Clay Club, established in 1900, is the oldest continuously active art club in Connecticut. With a history and impact extending far beyond New Haven, the club draws members and exhibitors from across Connecticut, New York and New England.

The art in this exhibition explores place and regional identity. Traditional landscapes depict the land, water, people and locales that help shape our conception of the Northeast. Other works by Connecticut artists portray abstracted landscapes and imaginative or distant places. Drawn from the collection of the New Haven Paint & Clay Club and augmented with works by Club members from the Lyman Allyn and the New Haven Museum, this retrospective celebrates the history and continuing legacy of the Club in its efforts to support and encourage the visual arts. [Read more…]