Dom Lyner’s Story

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT 

Hi, my name is Dom Lyner (also known as Llyn.el),

I’m a Philadelphia native, a muralist, teacher, artist, and poet that dabbles in many art styles with a focus on harmony, balance, and expression.

I began my journey with Mural Arts in 2015 during my senior year at Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. I enrolled in the Foundations & Innovations class, where muralist and artist Michelle Ortiz paired with teaching artist Brad Carney.

Michele curated lessons and conversations in our classroom that helped to influence her mural design on the Congreso building. Outside of the classroom, I helped paint the mural in her studio space. I felt inspired by the mural making process and wanted to connect more with Mural Arts.

After high school, I began to visit Brad Carney’s classroom as a volunteer, looking to get more involved with the work. I helped support his students in the creative process by teaching them how to paint a mural, mix paint colors, and find balance in their work. The Art Education department took notice of my commitment to art and supporting students. As a result, I was asked to join Mural Arts as a teaching assistant.

As an assistant teaching artist, I was able to expand my creative and professional development. I worked with middle school students at Southeast by Southeast, helped schools develop their curriculum for the school year, and went to visit several public schools and recreation centers in the Philadelphia area to recruit students who would be interested in joining the arts programs. In this role, I was also able to assist my former teacher Brad Carney on a mural project at The U School, Everything the Light Touches.

In 2017, I applied for the Summer Internship Program and was accepted into the class. It was a very insightful experience as I got to assist Artist Benjamin Volta on his murals, Parts Per Million and Moxie Roots. During the internship, my curiosity on Ben’s process had me asking a lot of questions and he was very open with me and the other interns. This program opportunity really boosted my confidence in my own artistic process.

Since finishing my internship, I have officially become a full-time member of the Art Education department as a Lead Teaching Artist. In 2021, I completed my first mural as a lead artist titled, Metanoia, located at George Washington High School. In 2023, I helped lead the creation and curation of the Annual Student Art Exhibition at the IceBox. This past summer, I completed my designed mural at Jardel Recreation Center titled, Peaceful Thicket. This mural was a full circle moment for me as I was assisted by students in the Mural Arts summer program.

I am very grateful for the opportunities at Mural Arts and the many doors they continuously help me to open. To the teachers and mentors in the Art Education department, I wasn’t just another student in a classroom, I was seen as an artist and encouraged to find my own creative expression. They helped foster my work and now I have the honor to help other young artists discover their talents, while demonstrating the power of community art.