Back in 2004, Stephen Lyons and four other business partners started Platform Gallery in the midst of one of Seattle’s dot-com crashes. At the time, the city’s gallery industry was dramatically shifting, and a number of galleries shuddered due to the downturn. During that period, Platform was able to fill the gap in representing and exhibiting work by local artists.
As a result of the most recent downturn, Platform’s operational structure has shifted significantly as well. Lyons is currently the gallery’s sole owner as his business partners have chosen to return to their studios. Despite the changes, Platform’s commitment to showcasing challenging contemporary art has remained unwavering.
Platform is a for-profit gallery that focuses on solo shows and exhibits national and international artists whose work is not often seen in the Seattle area. Lyons gravitates towards visual art, sculpture, and photography that takes a conceptual approach or challenges the viewer’s perspective.
“We don’t show work that is necessarily pretty,” Lyons says. “It is work where artists are challenging our notions of what’s going on in the world, what it means to be an artist, or what it means to be a viewer.”
In addition to handling Platform’s exhibits, Lyons also represents 16 artists and makes sure that their work is on the radar of potential collectors and museum curators. Platform’s setup allows artists to focus on their time in the studio while developing professionally and make a profit from their work. “We really felt like artists needed an outlet to be compensated for what they do,” Lyons says.
In early January, the gallery will feature photography by Adam Ekberg. In The Arsonist’s Shadow, Ekberg meticulously fills an empty room with everyday objects like lighters and balloons and creates scenes that are equal parts forlorn and serendipitous.
Over the past couple of years, Lyons also has continued broadening Platform’s scope by participating in contemporary art fairs. Earlier in December, Lyons was involved in Aqua Art Miami, which is held concurrently with Miami’s Art Basel. This event allowed Lyons to reach out to an audience that might not be familiar with Seattle’s art scene and bring his artists’ recognition from international art collectors.
By connecting with art aficionados outside of Seattle, Lyons has the opportunity to continue building a solid reputation for his gallery on an international scale. It also gives him a chance to put the focus back on being inspired by amazing contemporary art. “I find that it’s a really good opportunity to slow down,” Lyons says, “and actually look at work.”