Carolyn Pyfrom

Carolyn Pyfrom is an Adjunct and Continuing Education Instructor at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), where she teaches Life Painting, Life Drawing, and Cast Drawing. She has also held teaching positions at Arcadia University, Swarthmore College, and the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial. Her academic training includes a diploma from the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy, and a dual B.A. in Studio Art and Mathematics from Troy University, where she graduated summa cum laude. She also studied at Obirin University in Tokyo.

• Diploma, The Florence Academy of Art, Florence, Italy (2002)
• Bachelor of Arts, Troy University, Troy, AL (1995)
• Obirin University, Tokyo, Japan (1993–1994)

Pyfrom’s research and artistic practice centers on classical realism, perceptual painting, and the human figure. Her work explores portraiture, still life, and domestic scenes with a focus on light, form, and emotional depth. She is deeply engaged in the tradition of observational painting, often blending intimate family narratives with academic rigor. Her recent works from 2020 to 2024 demonstrate a consistent evolution in technique and thematic complexity, with a strong emphasis on personal and familial relationships.

Her recent artistic output shows a thematic trend toward intimate, domestic realism, often featuring family members and studio environments. The works span oil, charcoal, and mixed media, reflecting a mastery of both drawing and painting techniques. Her compositions frequently juxtapose the human figure with classical casts or everyday objects, bridging academic tradition with contemporary life.

Carolyn Pyfrom has received numerous honors, including:

• Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Artist’s Grant (2005, 2003)
• Fleisher Art Memorial Hazell Faculty Fellowship (2004)
• American Society of Classical Realism Atelier Student Scholarship (2001)
• John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship (2001)
• Nomination for Pew Fellowship in the Arts (2012)

She has advised students through her teaching roles at PAFA and other institutions, though no formal advisees are listed. She has not received public grant funding beyond her fellowships and scholarships. Pyfrom’s studio practice is deeply integrated with her pedagogy, and she contributes to the contemporary realist movement through both her artwork and instruction.