Familiar faces from your backyard and pop culture will be displayed in the Gallery by the Lake’s newest exhibition. “Backyard Variety” will feature work from Lerin Freyou – Sulphur native, artist, illustrator and author – as well as work from other Gallery by the Lake members.

The theme of “Backyard Variety” encourages bold colors, lovable characters and fun. “It’s not fine art, it’s fun art,” said Freyou. “It’s about the characters. Each piece has a story.”

Freyou began painting the animals she saw in her backyard, such as fish and birds. “This area has a vibrant culture that revolves around nature. When I would paint, I would find myself giving each creature a backstory.”

The community of characters that Freyou created eventually led to the conception of the Backyard Variety Gang.

She began to take inspiration from modern Pop Culture, such as Marilyn Manson and Andy Warhol. “That’s when I started to lean into the Pop Art Style.”

Much of her artistry is drawn from George Rodrigue, the artist who created the character the Blue Dog. Much like Rodrique, Freyou wants to create art that permeates memory. “I want to make art that people remember. Simple and bold is easy to remember.”

41 pieces will be on display. Dan Plummer, President of Gallery by the Lake, stated that there is a “broad range of media overall,” including acrylic on canvas, charcoal on paper, photographic prints, monotype prints, traditional lithography prints, photolithographic prints, watercolor and raku-fired ceramic.

Eleven of those pieces are by Freyou. Her pieces are acrylic on canvas, except for her character Tina, a plastic mannequin decorated with acrylic paint.

The Gallery aims to “share and inspire the aesthetic power of visual arts in our community with programs designed to educate and promote participation through gallery events and exhibits,” said Plummer.

“Backyard Variety Gang” supports this mission with its variety of mediums. “We hope that this range, as well as the variety of images and approaches, will be ete-opening and inspiring to each visitor to the gallery.”

To celebrate the exhibition, a reception will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 10 at the Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center’s second floor gallery. Admission to the reception is free.

The show will run until Saturday, April 15.

The Gallery by the Lake will also be hosting their “Second Saturday” art workshop on figure drawing on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 9:30 a.m.to 12:30 p.m. at Imperial Calcasieu Museum. The workshop costs $35 per person. To register and pay, visit www.gallerybythelake.org.