ABOUT
ARTIST STATEMENT
"I create narrative artwork that chronicles the collision of cruelty against compassion. Autobiographical anecdotes of childhood abuse, adult sexual assault, spousal domestic violence, PTSD and suicide attempts intertwine with the sociocultural struggles of my Caribbean immigrant family and ancestors, mirrored in contemporary American life. Afro-Cuban religious iconography and history tether together survivorship stories of the past and present. The unconquerable nature of the human spirit reigns over the impact of trauma."
LILI BERNARD
BIO
LILI BERNARD is a Cuban-born, Los Angeles-based interdisciplinary artist of mixed African, Caribbean, European and Chinese descent. Her work examines issues of sexism, racism, trauma and resilience. A mother of six whom she birthed in a ten-year span, Lili is an award-winning exhibiting fine artist, actor, published writer, independent curator, educator, community organizer, public speaker and founder of Art Roots Mambí and BAILA: Black Artists in Los Angeles.
Raised predominantly in Princeton, Jct., New Jersey, and a graduate of The American School in Japan where she spent 11th and 12th grade, Lili attended Cornell University and The City University of New York, earning a B.A. in German. She received her MFA in Visual Arts/Public Practice from Otis College of Art and Design.
In the fine arts, Lili’s numerous credits include a 2017 solo exhibition at Museum of African Diaspora and favorable reviews in a multitude of mainstream art periodicals, including ARTnews Magazine.
As an actor who has performed extensively in NYC Off-Broadway theatre, on television Lili starred in the BBC film Murder in Oakland, co-starred in BET's War Dawgz movie and Stephen King’s Golden Years TV mini series, and guest-starred on the sit-coms, Seinfeld and The Cosby Show.
A public-figure anti-rape activist, Lili influenced the abolishment of the statute of limitations on rape prosecution in California with her #EndRapeSOL peers, as well as nation-wide gubernatorial signings of various #MeToo bills on employment discrimination, sexual harassment and assault.
EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
Masters of Fine Arts from Otis College of Art and Design, Bachelor of Arts from City Univeristy of New York, Three Years Undergraduate at Cornell University, High School Diploma from The American School in Japan
EXHIBITIONS
Solo exhibition include Museum of the African Diaspora (2017), SBCAST Gallery (2016), Cielo Galleries (2016 & 2015), LACC Art Gallery (2014), Barnsdall Gallery Theatre (2014), Leimert Park Vision Theater (2014), St. Agatha’s Catholic Church (2012), and Hollywood Women’s Club (2011). Group exhibition include Walter Maciel Gallery, Coagula Curatorial, Dallas Art Fair, Charlie James Gallery, Self-Help Graphics, Gregorio Escalante Gallery, Launch Gallery, Bolsky Gallery, Forest Lawn Museum, Torrance Art Museum, LACE, LA Artcore, ArtShare LA, Watts Towers Arts Center, SOMArts and William Grant Still Arts Center.
AWARDS
Museum of the African Diaspora Emerging Artists Program (2016-2017), California Community Foundation We are Los Angeles Grant (2016), Women’s Center for Creative Work Grant (2016), Joan Mitchell Emerging Artist Finalist Grant (2015), Otis Outstanding Contribution Award (2014), Otis MFA Class Marshall (2014), Otis Board of Governors Fellowship (2012-2014), and International Society of Black Latinos Artist Award (2014).
FAVORABLE REVIEWS
ARTnews Magazine, KCET ArtBound, LA Weekly, SF Weekly, Artillery Magazine, KCRW, Modern Art Blitz, Coagula Art Journal, Tikkun Magazine, Art Voices Magazine, Good Day LA, BuzzFeed and Huff Post.
BIBLIOGRAPHY (partial)
2019-2025 Mentions Forthcoming (page in progress)
2018
Creative Souls, book by Paul Von Blum, Duke University Press
Creative Souls: The Exhibition, Tikkun Magazine
Life Lessons, Motherhood and Art, KCET Artbound
Viva La Vulva Group Art Show at Ren Gallery, Artillery Magazine
Closing Symposium for We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, California African American Museum
2017
Ten Artists Look South of the Border at Loft at Liz’s, Genie Davis, Art & Cake
Michael Jackson Remains Invisible: A Series of Art Exhibits at MoAD, Jonathan Curiel, SF Weekly
Sweet Sticky Things Soars at Launch Gallery, Genie Davis, Art & Cake
Sweet Sticky Things Artists Talk with Moderator by Naima Keith, Eric Minh Swenson, Take 1 Art Series
Sweet Sticky Things, Narrative Painting as the Voice of Black Women, Mat Gleason, HuffPost
Sweet Sticky Things, Wall Street International
Art Community Wants Exhibit to “Re-Imagine” Justice, Angie Crouch, NBC TV LA
“Re-Imagine Justice” Explores Past & Present of South LA, Cora Jackson-Fossett, Sentinel
In LA, 50 Artists Respond to the Black Panther’s Legacy, Matt Stromberg, Hyperallergic
50 Artists Interpret 50 Years of the Black Panther Party, Juxtapoz
PSA Holds Annual Occupy McKeldin, Emilie Fleuette, The Writer’s Bloc
Defense Lawyer Should Win Oscar for Performance, Lindsey, Ellefson, CNN
I’m One of Bill Cosby’s Accusers. His Defense Strategy is Reprehensible, Op Ed, Los Angeles Times
2016
LA Habitat: Lili Bernard, Katherine McMahon, ARTnews Magazine
Visits to the Studios of 16 Artists Over the Next 16 Weeks, Katherine McMahon, ARTNews Magazine
Lili Bernard & Robbie Conal, Mat Gleason, Modern Art Blitz
Eric Minh Swenson’s Art World Yearbook of Art World All Stars, Mat Gleason, Coagula Curatorial
More than 700 Female Artists Pose for a Portrait, Seven of Them Reflect on the Experience, ArtBound KCET
Lili Bernard Interview on Good Day LA, Steve Edwards & Araksya Karapetyan, Fox News
Inspired by Accusations Against Bill Cosby, CA Lawmakers Move to Lift Limits on Rape Cases, LA Times
2015
Lili Bernard: Fighting Trauma with Art, Liz Ohanesian, ArtBound KCET
Chats About Change: Critical Conversation on Art & Politics, Michael Ano, ArtBound KCET
Emerging Artists Grant Finalist Awards, Joan Mitchell Foundation
Visual Artist Highlights Afro-Latin History & Uplifts Artists, Ashley Nash, Annenberg Digital News
No Longer Afraid: Bill Cosby Accusers Speak Out, Noreen Malone/Amanda Demme, New York Magazine
Bill Cosby Protestors Demand Change in Rape Laws, Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times
2014
Rise: Love, Revolution & the Black Panther Party, Kenya Davis-Hayes, ArtBound KCET
New Art Show Honors Black Panthers, Lisa Napoli, Arts & Culture Magazine & Radio, KCRW
Lili Bernard Talks Inspiration on Rise: Love & the Black Panther Party At Exhibition, ARTShareLA
Lili Bernard: Women of the West Indies, Pan African Film Festival & Caribbean TV, Shakti Productions
Lili Bernard: Artist, Laurel Paley, Collegian Wired News
2013
Culture: A Visual Critique of Racism, Paul Von Blum, Tikkun Magazine
Otis College Gallery Summer Show Seeks to Confront Societal Standards, Beatrice Rose, The Argonaut
2012
BAILA con Duende, Curated by Lili Bernard, Mar Yvette, Good Day LA Fox News
Artist Lili Bernard, Mat Gleason, Coagula Webisode
Seven Beauties and Underground Gallery, Nathan Solis, Avenue Meander