Lily McMahan

Bio

Lily McMahan is a multimedia artist who works across painting, ceramics, drawing, printmaking, and photography. Born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas, she lives in has recently relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, where she is pursuing a BFA in Painting and Ceramics at the Kansas City Art Institute. Lily has shown her work in juried shows at the Instituto Allende Escuela de Arte, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico; The Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS; and the Emily and Todd Voth Artspace, Kansas City, MO.

Artist Statement

Working primarily in painting and ceramics, my process is rooted in personal history, ecology, and exploration of gender and sexuality.

My upbringing close to the countryside and my grandmother’s water gardens have cultivated a deep connection to the landscape. Living fully immersed in the Midwest prairie and wetlands led to an interest in ecological systems, and consequently, the sentience of place has become a subject in my work.

I feel compelled to integrate myself and the physical world seamlessly, as evidence of how the adaptability of life and the resilience of the female body mirror one another. In my work, I’m drawn to natural instinct as a mindless driving force from within.

Exhibitions