Lyle J. Salmi

Salmi’s paintings invoke a style that can be characterized as “Abstract Impressionism”, as they explore the reality between the physicality of a painterly surface and the suggestion of light and space somewhere beyond…

Salmi grew up enjoying the bountiful lakes, streams, and wilderness areas of northeastern Minnesota. It was the lasting impressions of this environment, along with living in the desert southwest, visits to coastal Maine, and observing the open vistas of the Illinois landscape that have been infused with his understanding of contemporary abstract painting to lay the foundations for his abstract impressions of light and form.

The artist lives in Decatur, Illinois and enjoys part of the summer at his cabin on Bear Island Lake, a place that his family has owned since 1962.

Salmi’s paintings reveal his influences by artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Mark Rothko, Joan Mitchell, and Wolf Kahn.

Salmi’s paintings have been exhibited throughout the United States and his work is in both private and public collections including Kennebunk State Bank, Kennebunk, Maine, J.L. Hubbard Insurance, LL. Bean, Edward Jones Investments, Anheuser Busch, Illinois State University, Lawrence University, Millikin University, The Quincy Art Center, The McLean County Arts Center, and The Rochester Institute of Technology.

Salmi is represented by Elizabeth Moss Gallery in Falmouth, Maine, Artemis Gallery in Northeast Harbor, Maine, Five 3 Gallery in Laguna Beach, California, G Gallery Art online, The Art Legal online, and Gallery 510, Decatur, Illinois.