San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts

Lynn Roylance

Artist Statement

The Dialogue Series is a visual discussion of duality. Webster defines "Dialogue" as: A conversation between two or more persons; and "Duality" as: The quality or condition of being two or twofold. (Black/White, Good/Bad, God/Man, Art/Non-art, etc.) Opposites seem to arise from judgment. In our culture we often view white as life or goodness and black as evil: the good guys wear the white hats and the bad guys the black.

In my work I attempt the exploration of duality and the contradictions that it presents, believing that within one element exists the element of its apparent opposite. I use found objects and artificial flowers, polished areas and rough. The beauty contained within these seemingly opposing elements is for me the unifying factor.

By suspending judgment, the apparent separation or difference is nonexistent. When judgment is no longer an element, a dialogue can begin."
Lynn Roylance, May 2004

Lynn Roylance currently lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his wife Ann, where he designs and manages websites, does custom carpentry and works on his art. Born in North Ogden, Utah, Roylance moved with his family to California when he was 12. He studied both art and architecture when in high school and knew that would be his direction in life. He started college but dropped out to enlist in the army. A friend of his had recently left the service after spending time in Europe and Lynn thought that would be a great way to see Europe. He did spend time in Frankfurt, Germany but in 1965 he was ordered to go to Viet Nam and he stayed there throughout 1966. Returning to California after his army enlistment was finished, he went back to school and graduated from the California Institute of the Arts in 1971 with a BFA degree. He has been doing art his entire life-either painting, sculpture, performance or mixed media and has shown his work in galleries and museums throughout the United States.