Meet CCS Art Fellow Lyra Purugganan
Lyra discusses food as a medium, community-driven art, and the CCS ethos
The College of Creative Studies (CCS) is thrilled to welcome Lyra Purugganan as the 2024-25 CCS Art Fellow. With a background in printmaking, a passion for community-driven art, and a creative spirit shaped by cultural heritage and family traditions, Lyra brings an inspiring perspective to the CCS community.
Born in the Philippines, Lyra’s family later moved to Columbus, Ohio, where they became rooted in a tight-knit art community. “I grew up in a really amazing art community in Columbus, Ohio filled with DIY spaces and grassroots initiatives,” they said. “I think I’m really inspired by the possibilities of the communities I can create.”
Lyra earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking from Ohio State University before completing a Master of Fine Arts at UCSB. Now, as they take on their 2024-25 role within the CCS art major, they reflect on the experiences that have shaped their artistic vision.
Coming from a family of bakers and cooks, Lyra draws inspiration from the intersection of art and food. Sugar, a significant medium of Lyra’s, is cast into intricate molds to create meaningful pieces. For Lyra, this practice is more than an exploration of artistic materials—it’s a way of engaging with family history and cultural identity.
“My paternal great-grandfather’s name was Fructoso Bueno, which literally translates to ‘Good Sugar,’” Lyra said. “He migrated to Hawaii to work in the sugar plantations, leaving my grandfather and his mother behind in the Philippines. Given this history, working with sugar felt like a natural progression.”
Beyond food and printmaking, Lyra has recently begun blending modern technology with traditional art tools, such as the floor loom. “I have been experimenting with different techniques, including exploring soft circuitry and e-textiles, making simple circuits with conductive thread and fabric,” they said.
Lyra also uses art as a driving force for activism. In 2021, with the help of friends, they organized a print fundraiser to support a local Columbus family affected by police violence. One of the prints they designed doubled as a community resource, listing local and national alternatives to calling the police during crises.
“I’m really inspired by the possibilities of the communities I can create,” they commented.
When reflecting on their hobbies, Lyra shared, “It’s so difficult to separate my interests and hobbies from my academic work, and I somehow find a way to make it all connect. But I am a big RuPaul’s Drag Race fan, I love to bake and cook, and I enjoy making playlists for my friends.”
They added, “I am so excited and honored to be a part of this community.”
Looking ahead, Lyra is excited to continue to immerse themselves in the CCS community. “I love the interdisciplinary nature of the college. It’s really cool seeing what different people in different fields bring to the table,” they said. “CCS harnesses such talented, creative thinkers and artists who are not afraid to question structures and experiment.”
In the coming quarters, Lyra will offer the following courses: Material Disobedience: Queering the Object (Winter 2025), Food as Material, Eating as Performance (Spring 2025), and Exhibition Development Studio (Spring 2025). The first explores sculpture by challenging traditional relationships between form and material, encouraging students to create works inspired by concepts such as camp, drag, and kitsch. Food as Material, Eating as Performance examines food’s materiality and the act of consumption as artistic mediums, combining sculpture, performance, and cultural research. Both courses invite students to push boundaries in their creative practice while connecting personal expression to broader cultural and social conversations. Lastly, in Exhibition Development Studio students will gain hands-on experience and learn the essentials of producing successful gallery exhibitions.
The College welcomes Lyra and the creativity they bring to the Art major.