As Lily Liu walks through the Bill Ford Gallery at Paducah School of Design, she scans the art on the walls and makes conversation with friends and colleagues as her sons tug on her hands. Equally at home in this environment, Kyoshi, 9, and Kenji, 7, sprawl out on a bench in front of the figurative drawings, often looking at the art upside down with their feet toward the ceiling.
Lily began her art career in college and has since found satisfaction in the time and process of creating with her hands. She always strives to challenge herself as an artist, working with materials from ceramics to fibers and constantly experimenting with new techniques. After a period of refining her craft, though, Lily witnessed a shift in her priorities.
“Since I had kids, the center of my universe has changed,” she says.
Now, Lily’s passion for art and her dedication to her children is an act of balance. She spends hours immersed in her sons’ homework, hobbies, and playtime. Despite her busy schedule, Lily has not forgotten her art.
Besides working in her studio, Lily Liu Designs, and at the Paducah School of Art and Design, Lily fits her craft into the various gaps in her day, such as knitting while she waits in the car, in her home studio, and in a chair in the corner of her bedroom as the boys sleep just a few feet away.
“The inspiration from my art comes from my daily life, different places, and, of course, my kids,” Lily says.
