Lyles are two-dimensional wooden smiling monsters. Some are solitary, but most prefer to move in herds from 10-50 and can grow from inches up to 8ft tall. Wherever they go they tend to make people smile and feel a bit better about the world.

I began making Lyles in 2015, initially just because I found them so sympathetic. Originally conceiving Lyle as a friend, I saw him as a Panglossian companion (Dr. Pangloss was Candide’s teacher (Voltaire), who was optimistic regardless of the circumstances).

These days Lyle hasn’t changed, but the world seems to be mutating at a dizzying rate. Now he serves as more than a watcher, still smiling but no longer passive. Lyle is a guardian of humanity - here to remind us that decency still exists, but needs to be protected.

So far I have made just over 500 Lyles, and they are happily spotted all over the world. You can track the sightings on my website as well as on Instagram.

More info: lylesightings.com | Instagram | Instagram