Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaye Lillian
Hi Kaye, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Ever since I was a young girl, I’ve always had a complex relationship with my femininity. It has simultaneously been this thing that encages me while also liberating me. I had grown up in a very traditional and restrictive community where simply the act of being a woman was sinful. As I started to pursue art through a variety of medias, I found that creating was the only space where I really felt like myself. It was the only place I could be loud, violent, sensitive, soft, embarrassing, distasteful– the only place I could look at myself and see the true version of me, not the quiet wife anyone else wanted me to be.
I started as a painter mostly, but always felt hungrier for something more tactile and visceral. I turned towards fiber, partly due to its long and rich history with women artists, and partly due to the catharsis it gave me. Working with fiber, specifically yarn, is so delicate and meticulous, it allows me to to be aggressive and ambitious, while still providing the space to celebrate the gentleness and softness of girlhood.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the significant challenges I’ve faced is being taken seriously in a field often dominated by traditional perceptions of what art should be. Many people still view fiber arts as less legitimate compared to other mediums, especially because of it’s long history of being a women’s craft. People often see me and have shallow assumptions about my work– they simply see a young woman with childish interests and a vain taste for fashion. Yet this has pushed me to work harder to advocate for my craft, to demonstrate that fiber art can convey deep emotion, social commentary, and innovative ideas.
However, I think there is also liberation in the release of expectations. I want to show viewers that art about feminine subjects is complex and beautiful, but I also won’t waste my time. I know that ultimately, no amount of approval from the male gaze in the art community will free me, but rather entrench me more. I don’t want to spend my time making art solely to prove myself (as tempting as it is sometimes), but rather spend my time enjoying the gift of self expression and discovery. The criticism has only made me more encouraged, I have so much confidence in my work–not because I think it is the greatest work to ever exist or that it will even be remembered in 10 years. But I know that the relationships and connections I am able to form with women through my work, and when other women have told me what my work means to them– that is enough for me. If women reminiscing on the sweetness of girlhood is not profound enough for you, that’s okay! It is profound to me, and that is why I create the way I do.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I really enjoy working with every type of media as they all each serve an individual purpose, but I do find myself returning to fiber the most. Using different types of media allows me to say different things! But typically, when it comes to creating, my concepts tend to manifest themselves. I don’t typically “try” to make work about something specific but rather I reminisce on my girlhood, life experiences, relationships with other women, and observations of the world around me, and then make art in response to it.
Even within the media of “fiber” there are so many subtypes that can all be experimented with. For some works, I use solid bases of found objects or 3d printed models which are then covered in yarn to create a detailed silhouette. I also work with embroidery, sewing, needle felting, weaving, and crocheting. All these processes are repetitive and become very ritualistic and meditative for me. Fashion has always been a big part of expressing feminine identity, so I design and crochet certain outfits and wearable pieces to match my sculptures and 2d work. All these processes take hours upon hours, but I always feel so relieved and proud when completed.
Any big plans?
I graduated with my BFA last year, in December 2023, so this past year has been a lot of personal change for me! I pushed myself so hard while studying to get my degree in Fine Arts, which I look back at so fondly and proud of. But it is so important to take breaks and periods of rest so that the work you are making is actually productive! Being an artist takes a lot of dedication and work, but it also takes forgiveness and empathy with yourself. So this year, I have mostly decided to take some time off from creating actually! Artists often feel like they’re not supposed to say that out loud or take breaks, but I think there’s no reason to be ashamed of it.
I have still been making of course because I can’t resist, but I’ve been creating solely on my own terms and at my own pace. Art is what we make in response to the world around us, and we need to actually see the world to be able to do that! So I’ve still been creating, but I’ve taken a temporary break from showing in galleries and curating shows while I settle some things in my personal life. I will say though that I’m very excited for 2025 to get back into the thick of things and get involved with the community again!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KayeLillian
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayelillianart/
