Artist statement
As a first generation Taiwanese immigrant, my work shows people the effort, time, and possibilities. My multi-cultural experiences and the feeling of always being an outsider taught me that hard work and patience can help me get through issues while sometimes I don’t really know how. Keep creating something with an unknown driven force till everything comes together is a practice of body, mind, and human connections for me. That’s what I had never ever experienced before I started to learn ceramics. I appreciate it deeply and hope my work can show some people that we have similar feelings while we are going through different difficulties, and we are not alone in this world.
My ceramics installations are often formed by many small pieces. The sizes fit in people’s palm and are movable. It’s a metaphor for changes in life. I believe that people who work hard with passions will have opportunities to change and be seen. Small things in life matter, we sure can’t fix everything, but we can try our best to do what we can, little by little, continuously influence the people around us and our next generations.
Bio
Lily was born in Taiwan where she earned her BA in Early Childhood Education. She worked with many families as a kindergarten teacher before she moved to the United States as an au pair. While in the US, she started to take art classes and now works with ceramics full time. Her works are primary about relationships, childhood, and life events. She has exhibited her ceramics and drawings in Santa Barbara, CA and Philadelphia, PA. Being able to work relentlessly everyday in the ceramics studio makes her feel alive.
CV
Education:
◈ 2018 Fall- 2019 Spring Post-Bacc, Tyler School of Art at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
◈ Studio Art Major, Santa Barbara City College, CA
◈ BA in Early Childhood Education, National Taichung University, Taiwan
Residency:
2018 summer resident at Cub Creek Foundation, Appomattox, VA
Awards:
2019:
◈ NCECA (The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) Multicultural Fellowship
2018:
◈ Annual Student Exhibition Juror's Award
◈ Santa Barbara Art Association Scholarship Award
2017:
◈ Annual Student Exhibition Juror's Choice Award
◈ Frederick and Ursula Perl Endowed Art Scholarship
Exhibitions:
2019
◈ Ink & Clay 44, Kellogg University Art Gallery, Pomona, CA
◈ Fine Arts Faculty Show, Ann Foxworthy Gallery, Santa Maria, CA
◈ Ruku showcase, Anam Cré Pottery studio, San Luis Obispo, CA
2018
◈ Ganna Walska Lotusland gala, Montecito, CA
◈ Santa Barbara Art Association Annual Meeting, The Fess Parker Hotel, Santa Barbara, CA
◈ Annual Student Exhibition, The Atkinson Gallery. Curated by Yasmine Zodeh, Santa Barbara, CA
◈ Tiger’s Eye, Biko House, Isla Vista, CA
2017
◈ Annual Student Exhibition, The Atkinson Gallery. Curated by Emma Saperstein, Santa Barbara, CA
◈ Untold Stories, Curated by Emily Corb, Santa Barbara, CA
Press:
"Lotusland Celebrates Gems of the Garden", Ganna Walska Lotusland newsletter, Fall 2018, p11
2018 Student Voices Magazine, Santa Barbara City College, Cover, 2018
Gail Arnold: "Lotusland Celebrates Oscar de la Renta-Style", Independent, August 6, 2018
Mayer Rus: "Lotusland Anniversary Event: Fashion Elite Descend on the Iconic Lotusland Gardens for a Chic Celebration", Architectural Digest, August 6, 2018
Madison Dahlke: "LOTUSLAND CELEBRATES: GEMS OF GARDEN GALA", C Social Front, August 3, 2018
"Lotus rising: Lotusland celebrates gems at the garden", Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine, August 1, 2018
"Garden Variety", Montecito Journal, Vol 24 Issue 31, 2018, p.25
Josef Woodard: "ART REVIEW: Clay for Thought: Annual student exhibition at Santa Barbara City College extends beyond the Atkinson Gallery walls, and extends compassion for a post-Montecito mudslide community in need and in grieving", Santa Barbara News Press, April 27, 2018
Josef Woodard: “Art meets memorial”, Santa Barbara News Press, April 14, 2018, front page
"Montecito Mud Used to Create Memorial Artwork", Voice Magazine, April 13, 2018, p. 11
Haley Herrera: “SBCC art students put talent on display for annual exhibition”, The Channels, April 14, 2018
Santa Barbara Museum of Art Summer newsletter, 2017, p. 15
Josef Woodard: “ART REVIEW: Artistic Harvest, in the Humanities Building”, Santa Barbara News Press, May 5, 2017
Zuri Smith: “Untold Stories’ exhibit conveys genuine and honest art pieces”, The Channels, April 26, 2017
Zuri Smith: “Atkinson displays modern pieces in annual student art exhibit”, The Channels, April 22, 2017