We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lyric Montgomery Kinard. Check out our conversation below.
Lyric Montgomery, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
Some of my personal artwork is very political – if you call advocacy for immigrants and refugees and the belief that multiculturalism is a good thing political. I joined a group of artists who curated an exhibit called Threads of Resistance—a nationwide show of quilts created in response to political events that many of us felt were threatening to vulnerable people. The intent was simple: to use art as a way to speak up for compassion, inclusion, and justice. But the reaction was intense. Many of us were blacklisted because of it. People called the groups that had hired us to teach and told them to cancel our contracts. I don’t regret it. Art has always been a form of truth-telling for me, and silence would have cost far more.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello Friends, I’m Lyric Montgomery Kinard, a textile artist, author, and educator who’s spent more than twenty-five years helping other creatives find their voice and share their work with the world.
I founded the Academy for Virtual Teaching to give artists, makers, and small shop owners the tools to thrive online—without needing fancy gear or a big budget. We help artists and shop owners create independent, online income streams that aren’t at the mercy of economic shifts or policy changes.
Right now, I’m especially excited about two hands-on programs. The Video-Making Crash Course teaches simple, phone-based video creation for teachers and businesses who need to connect with audiences online. And the 30-Day Workshop Launch Lab guides creatives to open registration for their next class before they build it – turning an idea into income in just one month.
At its heart, everything I teach is about confidence, creativity, and sustainability. When artists learn to show up on camera, share their story, and sell their work online, they’re not just building a business – they’re creating economic freedom.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
When we start editing ourselves to meet some imagined standard we lose the messy, human moments that make connection possible. IN this age of AI what restores our bonds and our communities is that authenticity – that imperfection. Showing up as we truly are, honest, flawed, and real, without filters or performance, engenders trust and provides an environment where creativity thrives.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I was taught by society and by a conservative religion that I should make myself small in order to be acceptable. It’s been a lifelong process of growth to realize that living into my full power allows me to love and serve the people around me, and to bring joy and beauty to this world. Regardless of how uncomfortable those who aren’t used to seeing powerful women feel I no longer acquiesce and let others get in the way of what I truly have to offer.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
I believe that every human being deserves dignity no matter how imperfect, lost, or messy we are. I believe worth isn’t something we earn through achievement or goodness; it’s something we’re born with. Holding that truth changes how I teach, create, and move through the world. It reminds me that grace is the foundation of every real connection.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I did what I was told to do for decades, and somehow managed to build a career that fit into the cracks that appeared in that mold. Since I’ve broken out of the “should” part of my life and am living in the “because it’s truly what I was born to do” part of my life it’s been an intense learning curve. I’m running a business that creates community and truly helps people. Teaching other artists the technology and business skills to create their own teaching businesses expands the joy of creativity in an exponential way. It’s a much farther reach than I could have only making and teaching my own art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.academyforvirtualteaching.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/theAcademyforVirtualTeaching
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/theAcademyforVirtualTeaching
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAcademyForVirtualTeaching
