An area man’s oil painting is on display as part of the prestigious “Art of the State” exhibit at The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg.

Michael Pyrdsa’s work, “Jim Thorpe,” features the borough’s iconic intersection near the Jim Thorpe Train Station as a train sits ready to offer rides on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. The Carbon County Courthouse and other buildings tower in the background.

“We ride our bikes on the D & L Trail,” Pyrdsa said, remembering the inspiration behind the painting. “It was a beautiful day, and Jim Thorpe has that beautiful architecture. It’s stunning. It was just the right day.”

The New Ringgold man’s painting was one of 96 works of art chosen from more than 2,200 entries for the 57th annual juried exhibition.

The exhibition runs through Jan. 5 and offers a glimpse into the commonwealth’s rich artistic heritage, featuring works that span painting, photography/digital media, craft, sculpture and works on paper.

Pyrdsa painted the Jim Thorpe scene on a 4-foot by 7½-foot panel.

“I do a lot of big paintings,” he said. “(But) I do all sizes.”

He’s been creating art for most of his life, and prefers to use oil paints for his work.

In a statement submitted for the exhibit, Pyrdsa writes: “I have been painting for over 50 years. In my art, I like to explore the beauty of nature and human consciousness, blending vivid colors and textures to try to convey a sense of wonder and connection.”

He paints landscapes, portraits and still life scenes. He’s completed scenes of the Lehigh Gorge near Jim Thorpe, and several of streets and houses in Tamaqua. Other local scenes, sights and people have inspired his work.

At the moment, he is painting flowers grown by his wife, Michelle.

Formerly from the village of Hometown in Rush Township, Pyrdsa recently viewed the museum exhibit.

“It’s great to see it in an environment like that. They do a great job with the lighting. They set up a great gallery there,” he said. “It’s good to see your work with other people’s work from around the state.”

It wasn’t his first time, however.

Pyrdsa’s “February First” painting of a snow pile tamped down by a plow and tires was selected for the 2023 exhibition. His “Tastier than Filet Mignon” was chosen in 2022 and features a woman standing outside a frankfurter shop. And in 2020, his “At the Festival” showing two festivalgoers was selected.

“I guess they call it a pretty prestigious show, but I’ve been in it several times,” he said. “I’m lucky.”

His art is part of collections and exhibits in a number of states.

Pyrdsa also painted murals locally. One — of a frothy beer mug — is on the side of the Sidetrack Tap Room in Tamaqua. He painted it when the former Happy Ending was at the site. Another was at the Hometown Farmers Market until recently, when the exterior wall had to be covered.

More information on the state exhibit, which is presented by the museum and Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation, can be found at https://statemuseumpa.org/artofthestate/.

His art is featured on his website, www.michaelpyrdsa.com.