Aloha mai kākou!
My name is Lily Māhaealani Mitchell, and I’m born and raised in ʻAiea on the island of Oʻahu. I grew up deeply connected to my ʻohana, my ʻāina, and most importantly, art!
I moved to England to study graphic design at university and connect with my English heritage (my mother is from York!). While over here, I realized how deeply I love Hawaiian culture and want to use my technical skills in visual communication to uplift indigenous and vulnerable communities as well as global sustainability efforts.
Hawaiian culture and aloha ‘āina (love of the land) are at the center of my practice. I am a passionate advocate for Hawaiians existing in places of education and being in charge of telling our own story. Re-contextualizing historical material through contemporary art and design has been my specialism, and I have explored mediums ranging from publication design, murals/public art installation, printmaking, illustration, painting, quiltmaking, and many more!
I founded Studio Puluma with Alex because I feel the current world of art, especially in western societies, purports many themes of colonialism and racial exclusivity. I rarely see artists, art pieces, values, or stories that reflect my own. My own art practice was created by my own need to reconnect with my indigenous culture, and I wanted to create a place where others who want to share their story through creative means have the supplies, facilitation, skills, and community to do so.
As a muralist, I also believe art plays an important role in beautifying and uplifting communities, especially those who are under-represented and socio-economically challenged. I hope through Studio Puluma we can invite communities to collaborate and create art with each other, for each other.
Currently, I am illustrating a children’s book with my dear friend Molly Mamaril, author and self-publisher. Additionally, I am further honing my Hawaiian quiltmaking skills on a large-scale project centering around the Kumulipo.
To see more about my upcoming and past projects, please visit my social media
@madebymahealily or my website
mahealily.com
Mahalo nui me ke aloha!
