I am a multi-media artist whose work has crossed the borders of fine arts, design, and research. Since 2000, my studio work has focused on how art can impact well-being, both for the artist and the viewer. By merging light and art, exploring the relationship between art and technology, and, more importantly, its impact on the viewer, my studio practice is connected to ongoing research on how integrating dynamic light in artwork can create a deep engagement with the viewer.
This journey is rooted in my passion for creation, fueled by the tactile pleasure of manipulating materials and my interest in the sciences, further enriched by research into the psychological and physiological effects of imagery, light, and color on viewers. Over the years, I have dedicated myself to mastering technologies that enable the manipulation of light and its integration with traditional art mediums such as oil, watercolor, pastel, and charcoal. This has led to a delicate balance of medium and materials in response to light as it interacts with or reflects off their surfaces, sparking intriguing questions about the potential of dynamic art to communicate with us, captivate, stimulate, soothe, and heal.
In addition to my studio work, I am also a Professor of Industrial Design, with fifteen years teaching at Parsons School of Design and now thirteen years at Thomas Jefferson University (formerly Philadelphia University). I am also the founder and director of the Jefferson Center of Immersive Arts for Health, an initiative to investigate the impact of dynamic and interactive art on health.
Lyn Godley is a multi-media artist. Her designs, done as a partner of Godley-Schwan (1984-1998) and individually as Lyn Godley Studio (1999-Present), have been exhibited internationally and are in numerous international museums and private collections, including the Museum of Modern Art NYC. Since 2000, her studio work has focused on merging light and art, exploring the relationship between art and technology and its impact on the viewer. Her studio practice is linked to her research on how integrating dynamic light in artwork can create a deeper engagement by affecting both the environment and the user. Her work merges painting and new media for public settings. Ultimately, Godley’s artwork creates a rhythm and sense of peace to which one can surrender.
In addition to her studio practice, Godley is a full-time Professor of Industrial Design at Thomas Jefferson University, where she has developed cross-disciplinary curricula in Lighting Design with a focus on Light and New Media as Experience. She is also the Director of the Jefferson Center of Immersive Arts for Health, an initiative researching the impact of dynamic light and interactive art on health. She has spoken at National and International conferences on Light and Health, Arts and Health, and Lighting Design Education.
1980
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
MFA
1978
Ohio State University
BFA
2015
NAP Connections “Shedding Light on Healing” TV interview. BCTV, Manhattan Cable, Drexel DUTV.
Orton, Maddie “Tech-Based Art Takes Over Rowan University Art Gallery”, NJTV News, January 30, 2015
2014
Becherer, Joseph “Ford Museum presents Technically Impressive Works,” M-Live, September 24, 2014
2013
Sapunar, Dora “Kickstarting Fiber Optic Art”, Metropolis Magazine, October 2013
Brill, Louis “Thought Process: Linear Light for the Creative Arts”, Professional Lighting Design. July 2013
2011
“Ins helle Licht fliegen (Fly into the Bright Light)”, Kolnische Rundschau, October 2011
2010
“More Serious Business” Northhampton Community College, the Morning Call, September 2010
Shira, Ron “Confronting Nature Conceptually, with Innovation at the Freedman Gallery,” Reading Eagle, June 2010
2009
Baker, Maggie “Solid-State offers a New Tool for The Art of Lighting,” Architectural SSL, October2009
2004
Stahl, Julie “Dish; International Design for the Home,” Princeton Architectural Press, 2004
2002
Byers, Mel, The Design Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition, Museum of Modern Art, 2002
Miller, Craig, US Design 1975-2000, Denver Art Museum, Prestel Publishing, 2002
“Museum of Modern Art Profile on Terence Riley, Lyn Godley, & Karim Rashid”, U-Way Japan, July 2000
1997
Byers, Mel, 50 Lights, RotoVision, 1997
In Flight, Exhibition Catalog, Sponsored by MultiArt International , Cologne, Germany 2011
2004
Playing The Field: the art + design of Godley-Schwan, Sponsored by the Design Center at Philadelphia University
2000
Defining Craft: Collecting for the New Millennium, Exhibition Catalog, American Craft Museum
2015
Crinkle Lamp, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
2003
Miracle Commissioned for Centennial Exhibit, The Jewish Museum, New York, NY
2002
Totem Floor Lamp, Otto Cabinet, Design Deptartment, Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO
2000
Crinkle Lamp, Museum of Art & Design, New York, NY
1998
Crinkle Lamp, Architecture + Design Department, Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
Jenette Kahn, former Pres. of DC Comics, Current President/ CEO of Double Nickel Entertainment
Pedro Almodóvar, Movie Director
Bruce Lewin, Owner of Bruce Lewin Fine Arts Gallery, New York, NY
Steve Shane, Art Collector
2011 - present
Associate Professor, Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, PA
2010
Guest Faculty, KISD Koln International School of Design, Cologne, Germany
2005
Judge, Collab Student Design Competition, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
1998 - present
Owner, Lyn Godley Design Studio, specializing in lighting design/art installations
1997 - 2011
Faculty, Parsons School of Design, New School University, New York, NY
1984 - 1998
Partner, Godley-Schwan, Specializing in furniture and lighting design
2015
Light Wrap, Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, Bethlehem, PA
2014
Finalist, Percent for Art Project, Sugar House Casino, Philadelphia, PA
Pending final decision
Finalist, Philadelphia Family Court Public Art Project, Philadelphia, PA
2013
“Dew-mi O’my,” LVHN – Cedar Crest Hospital, Allentown, PA
2008
LED lighting installation Thought Process, The GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, PA
2015
Speaker, "Light in Art," KISDtalk, Koln International School of Design, Cologne, Germany
2014
Presenter, Global Alliance of Arts+Healthcare International Conference, Houston, TX
2009
Lecturer, "Use of LEDs in Art," ArchLED Conference, Chicago, IL
2024
Jefferson University researchers are illuminating a chapel to research the healing power of light, by Peter Crimmins, Nov. 7, 2024, WHYY.
Interviewed for a documentary on “Lyn Godley and Arts for Health” by Julia Ongchoco to be presented at the Visual Science of Arts Conference.
VSAC 2024 will take place in Aberdeen, Scotland, on 22nd - 24th August 2024.
Jefferson Health's outpatient facility Honickman Center is a rarefied world of sensory sensitivity, by Stephanie Stahl, June 28, 2024, CBS News Philadelphia.
How the University Helped Bring Immersive Art and Neurodiverse-Friendly Seating to the Honickman Center, by Brian Hickey, April 1, 2024.
How Jefferson Health’s Honickman Center became a blueprint for an inclusive, neurodiverse environment, by Nicole Leonard, WHYY, April 30, 2024.
2023
'Women Light Artists': a collection of light art that includes manipulations of the medium, by Sunena V. Maju, Stir World, April 14, 2023
“A Revolutionary TEDxPenn”, by Lauren Hertzler, Penn Today, April 2, 2023
“The Light Fantastic” Innovator Magazine
“The TEDxPenn conference”, by Meheer Commuri, The Daily Pennsylvanian, March 30, 2023
2022
“Women Light Artists: Collected Light Volume 1”, Light Art created by 44 international female artists, curated by Light Collective, UK
“Art, Technology and Mental Health all Connect at this new Immersive Exhibit” by Sarah Huffman, Technical.ly, Sept 26, 2022.
2020
“An Illuminating Exhibit at HotBed – Lyn Godley examines Light as an Artistic Medium, this time with LEDs”, Edith Newhall, Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan. 26, 2020
“Lyn Godley’s Animated LED Art is One of the Must-Sees on Philly’s Gallery Circuit thisMonth”, Edith Newhall, Philadelphia Inquirer Jan. 22, 2020
2019
“Lyn Godley Illuminates Her Creative Process in Sordoni Art Gallery Lecture”, News@Wilkes, July 15, 2019
2018
‘Mindful’ Crowd Gathers in Gallery, by Cindy Davs Meixel, Sept. 7, PC Today.
With Grant, Jefferson to Develop Curriculum for Designers Focusing on Light and Health, Jefferson Today. September 6, 2018.
Exhibit presents stirring examination of mental health issues, by Don Wilkinson, Jan 4, 2018, South Coast Today.
2017
“Postmodernism Complete”, by Judith Gura, published by Thames and Hudson, November 2017.
“Mindful: Exploring Mental Health Through Art”, Nov. 29, 2017
“At the Philadelphia Airport: Experience Art Before Your Flight With These Installations” Aug. 11, 2017
"Lyn Godley: Soar”, July 12, 2017
“Mindful: Exploring Mental Health Through Art”, Nov. 28. 2017
“Modern Women/Women Artists at the Museum of Modern Art”, Nov. 13. 2017
“Virginia MOCA Hosts a “Mindful” Panel Discussion and Community Resource Night on Mental Health”, Feb. 16, 2017
“Mindful is Engaging at MOCA”, Feb. 14, 2017
“Very stunning fiber optic art”, Feb. 11, 2017
2024
Speaker on Panel Discussion, BluPrint, Digital Art + Wellness Design at Miami Art Basel, Miami, FL
Presented by ArtRepublic in partnership with 801 Brickell, Sony, and Bose Professional
2023
Presenter at 2023 TEDxPenn, on “Creating Awe: using dynamic light art to create an immersive experience for well-being” UPenn campus, Philadelphia, PA
Presenter at the National Organization for Arts and Health Annual Conference, Cleveland, OH
Immersive Arts and Health, Paper presented at the Light Symposium 2023, KTH University, Stockholm, Sweden
ArtShow with Craig Stover, Interview with host Craig Stover, Fall 2023
Presenter, Burlington Sessions, a two-day intensive workshop sponsored by Signify Lighting for a select group of International Light Artists, Boston, MA
By Invitation
2022
Presenter, LightSymposium 2022, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark
Residency at Swimming Hole Foundation for Collaborative Laboratory, Woodstock, NY
Invited by Debera Johnson of Pratt Institute
Presented a public talk “Using Light to FuseDesign, Art, Science, and Health” The DaVinci Science Center in Allentown, PA
I also gave a four-hour workshop to STEM teachers on using technology and Light to create art.
2021
Guest Lecturer for KTH Royal Institute of Technology’s Graduate Lighting Program in Stockholm, Sweden
I spoke on the Cross-disciplinary effort of large-scale public Light Art projects.
2020
Artist Talk, Lucent Shadows, Solo exhibit at HOTBED/James Oliver Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2019
Artist Talk, LIT, Solo Exhibition at Sordoni Art Gallery, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA
2018
Speaker, Mixed Media Women Artists in Philadelphia: A Summer Day- trip with Ursula von Rydingsvard, Gerri Spilka, and Lyn Godley
Presented by NY/PA ArtTable: The Leadership Organization for Professional Women in the Arts, New Fabric Museum, Philadelphia Art Museum, and Park Towne Place Galleries, Philadelphia, PA
Jenette Kahn, Former President of DC Comics, Current CEO of Double Nickel Entertainment
Pedro Almodóvar, Movie Director
Stephen Glassman, Architect, art collector, and former director of Connecticut ACLU
Bruce Lewin, Owner of Bruce Lewin Fine Arts Gallery in New York, NY, President of Continental Host
Steve Shane, Art Collector
Mark Weinstein (deceased), President of R+R Freelance Music Promotions
1998 - Present
Owner of Lyn Godley Design Studio, specializing in new media art, painting, and immersive experience through the combination of traditional media and dynamic lighting.
1984 - 1998
Partner of Godley-Schwan, Lyn Godley + Lloyd Schwan's design team, specialized in product, furniture, and lighting design.
2024
Lyn Godley: Standing Between Art, Technology, and Science, Scotts Mills Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2021
Conversations, The Art Box at Lincoln Square, Curated by CFEVA, Philadelphia, PA
2020
Lucent Shadows, HOTBED/James Oliver Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2019
LIT, Sordoni Art Gallery, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA
2014
Behind the Veil, Gallery at International House, Philadelphia, PA
Lyn Godley: Light and Art, Freyberger Gallery, Reading, PA
2013
InFlight, Le Meridian Hotel, Philadelphia, PA
2011
InFlight, Gallery 68, Cologne, Germany
2010
Lyn Godley, Moravian Academy, Bethlehem, PA
2009
Lyn Godley, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, PA
2004
Playing the Field, Retrospective of Godley-Schwan (Lyn Godley & Lloyd Schwan), The Design Center, Philadelphia, PA
2025
Upcoming: February 25, 2025- March 25, 2025
The Light Within, ArtRepublic x WithHER Fund Digital Art Exhibition Highlighting Women’s Month, United Nations Headquarters Visitors Lobby, New York, NY
2024
BluPrint, Digital Art + Wellness Design at Miami Art Basel, , Miami, FL
Presented by ArtRepublic in partnership with 801 Brickell, Sony, and Bose Professional
Converge, Bridgette Mayer Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Juried Exhibition
2023
Art Powering Lives, HOTBED Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Curated by HOTBED
2022
WAITING ROOM – Immersive for Wellbeing, HOTBED Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Curated by Lyn Godley
POST, Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, Philadelphia, PA
2021
Incubations, Scotts Mills Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
POST, Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, Philadelphia, PA
2020
Philly’s Freedom: Artist Speak Out, Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA
In Excess, SPRING/BREAK NYC, New York, NY
Curated by InLiquid
2019
POST, Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, Philadelphia, PA
2018
Jelly Smack, Gerald Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
Artprize
POST, Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, Philadelphia, PA
Light and Language, InLiquid at Park Towne Place, North and West Tower Galleries, Philadelphia, PA
Curated by InLiquid
The Interconnectedness of All Things, InLiquid at Park Towne Place, Philadelphia, PA
Mindful, Society for Contemporary Crafts, Pittsburgh, PA
Invitational Traveling Group Show
2017
Vibrant Effects, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Bodine Center, Philadelphia, PA
Curated by InLiquid and Revolve
Experimentation/Improvisation, Digital Media Artists, Sharadin Art Gallery, Kutztown University, PA
Curated by Rhonda Wall and Rick Salafia
Branching Out, Allen’s Lane Art Center’s Lieberman Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2016
Simulate/Permeate, Rowan University Gallery, Glassboro, NJ
Invitational Exhibition
Mindful, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH
Invitational Traveling Group Show
Mindful, Daura Gallery, Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA
Invitational Traveling Group Show
2014
WaterWall, Gerald Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
Artprize
POST, Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, Philadelphia, PA
2013
POST, Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, Philadelphia, PA
2012
Design Lab: Fusion of Science & Style, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA
Sotheby’s 20th Century Design Auctions, New York, NY
2010
Nature with a Twist, The Freedman Gallery, Albright University, Reading, PA
Invitational Exhibition, Curated by Michael Howell
Seeing Voices: The Visual Voice, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ
2009
Generations, Sharadin Gallery, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA
Kutztown University Faculty Exhibition, Sharadin Gallery, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA
2007
Sotheby’s 20th Century Design Auctions, New York, NY
2006
Functional Art, Eckhaus Gallery, Kutztown, PA
Kutztown University Faculty Exhibition, Sharadin Gallery, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA
2005
Philadelphia Re-vis-it-ed, Minima, Philadelphia, PA
2004
Collective Perspectives: New Acquisitions, Jewish Museum, New York, NY
Kutztown University Faculty Exhibition, Sharadin Gallery, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA
2003
US Design 1975 - 2000, Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO
Traveling Exhibition, Curated by Craig Miller
Defining Craft I: Collecting for the New Millennium, Davenport Art Museum, Davenport, IA
2000
Light X Eight, The Jewish Museum, New York, NY
Invitational Group Lighting Exhibition
Takumi’s Studio, World Design City GIFU, Gifu, Japan
Defining Design, American Craft Museum, New York, NY
Invitational Group Show
2022
Awarded Honorable Mention for the Women in Lighting Award - in the Light Art category. This international award from UK-based WIL highlights the achievements of the WIL community and its supporters, celebrating outstanding women in the following categories for 2022: Light Art, Research and Education, and Engineering.
2024
Jefferson Honickman Center, Philadelphia, PA
Commission for nine separate immersive art installations, installed Spring 2024
2020
Tierview Properties, Philadelphia, PA
Commission for Enveloped a large-scale fiber optic artwork in lobby, installed Spring 2020
2019
Hadley Restaurant, Park Towne Place, Philadelphia, PA
Commission for Elizabeth’s Chandelier in lobby, installed Fall 2019
2015
FLOW, Sugar House Casino, Philadelphia, PA
$600,00 Percent for Art Project Commission, selected from nationwide search, installed Winter 2016
Park Towne Place, Philadelphia, PA
Water Wall Commission, installed Summer of 2015
2013
Lehigh Valley Health Network – Cedar Crest Campus Hospital, Allentown, PA
Dew-mi O’ My, installed Fall 2013
2008
The GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, PA
$250,000 Commission for permanent LED lighting installation, Thought Process across the front façade of the building, installed Summer 2008
2024
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN
2018
Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY
2014
MUDE Design Museum, Permanent Collection, Lisbon, Portugal
2014
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Permanent Collection, Philadelphia, PA
2003
The Jewish Museum, Commissioned Menorah Miracle for Centennial Exhibit, New York, NY
2002
Denver Art Museum, Design Department, Denver, CO
2000
Museum of Contemporary Art & Design, New York, NY
1998
Museum of Modern Art, Architecture + Design Department, Permanent Collection, New York, NY
