Dear Student,
We are writing to share the very sad news that Mela Lyman, retired part-time lecturer in the Department of Painting and Drawing at SMFA, passed away recently.
A proud alumna, Professor Lyman received a studio diploma from SMFA in 1978 and then completed a BFA in 1979. Over the course of her career, her work was included in more than 40 museum and gallery exhibitions nationally and was reviewed in publications including ARTFORUM, Art New England, and New Art Examiner. She was the recipient of awards from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation. She was commissioned for several public art projects including a mural in Paine Park, commissioned by the Cambridge Arts Council in 2002, which was completed with the artwork of twenty neighborhood children and a painted interior frieze at the Water Shuttle Terminal at Logan International Airport in 1994.
In 1993, Professor Lyman came back to SMFA as a faculty member and taught here until her retirement in 2023. A member of the Department of Painting and Drawing, she largely taught courses on the Medford/Somerville campus. She was a deeply respected and beloved member of the community, known for her warm presence, dedication to teaching, and profound artistic vision. Her approach was caring, inspirational, and deeply student-centered. She could often be heard beginning a class by asking, “What do you want to do today?”—a simple question that reflected her belief in artistic autonomy and trust in her students’ instincts. Her classrooms were safe havens, especially for students who felt anxious or self-conscious about their work.
Professor Lyman's expansive knowledge was the cornerstone of her teaching. She shared it generously and with passion, weaving historical context into studio practice in ways that deepened students’ understanding and connection to their own work. Whether discussing Renaissance painting or classical architecture, she brought clarity, her own curiosity, and playfulness to the conversation—helping students see themselves as part of a larger artistic lineage. She was known to pause a class, even for the smallest student query, to set up a projector and illuminate not only a classroom wall but a classroom's understanding with an image. What followed was often a rich, impromptu lecture—layered with insight, enthusiasm, and deep care for the subject—that transformed a moment of curiosity into a shared journey of discovery.
Mela Lyman’s teaching style, her artistic contributions, and her ability to create community through both were extraordinary. She didn’t just make art—she made space for others to find their own voices. She will be remembered with admiration, gratitude, and love by all who knew her.
Professor Lyman is survived by her daughter, Gabriele Michaela Lyman von Steiger, and a grand-daughter, Imaani Lyman von Steiger, as well as extended family and a wealth of friends.
During difficult moments such as these, we encourage you to connect and spend time with your friends, your classmates, and your loved ones, whether at or outside of Tufts. Here’s how to get started:
