The Tune of Passion and Resilience: A Conversation with Lily Piette, BFA ’24
In the harmony of life, there are melodies that speak to each of us—a song so powerful it feels like it was written just for you. It's that tune you could play on repeat for hours, the one that stirs your soul, ignites your imagination, and reminds you that anything is possible. But what if that melody wasn't just a song you heard, but one that flowed from your own heart?
Lily Piette, BFA ’24, discovered her song in the bustling streets of Los Angeles at a young age and followed it all the way to the halls of SMFA at Tufts after high school. Lily’s path to pursuing art had always been lit with the brightest colors. "There was no other option," she recalls fondly. Lily's musical pursuits thrived by looking up to artists like Blonde Redhead, Sonic Youth, Deerhoof, Polvo, and Enon. Her relocation to Boston to pursue art at SMFA solidified her devotion to visual expression, where she encountered influential painters like Eleanor Swordy, Tae Won Ahn, and Magnet Larsen. Armed with a sketchbook that accompanied her through high school, Lily was ready to capture inspiration whenever it struck, her song always buzzing in the back of her mind. She gained access to an art studio and facilities after starting at SMFA. This facilitated the expansion of Lily’s view on artmaking, encompassing various disciplines and broadening her creative horizons.
"What I love about SMFA is that if you're in a place where you want a lot of directed classes with specific projects to build your skillset, you can do that, but if you want more open courses with self-directed projects, you can also do that," she remarks. For Lily, this balance of structured guidance and creative freedom allowed her to explore different methods of painting and color, ultimately leading her to develop a color palette and subjectivity that is intentional and personal to her. Departing from her earlier focus on the subconscious world, Lily now delves into the enigmatic realm of the digital interface, seamlessly blending airbrush techniques with oil paint to explore the complexities of subconscious thought and quantum mechanics. “The digital realm is invisible, and it functions similarly to the subconscious realm- it takes in information from the human brain and then, with complex algorithms, creates a new, confusing space,” Lily reflects. “I'm also interested in the complexities of quantum mechanics and light angles emitted from machinery.”
As Lily stands on the threshold of the next steps in her artistic journey, she takes with her the knowledge of not only how to create intricate works of art but also how to articulate her vision and ideas. "You learn how to talk about your work," she remarks, as well as creating work with such confidence that allows the work to speak for itself. Among Lily’s instructors, painting lecturer Maria Esther Gamboa stands out for her encouragement to "explore without inhibition, [and to not] let other people’s opinions get in the way!" While digital media and sound professor of the practice Kurt Ralske shared Lily's passion for music, leading to a collaborative project on a song. Ralske frequently held impromptu jam sessions in the atrium with other students. Lily admired this vibrant space filled with rhythm and open exploration, and she incorporated its energy into her work. "The way I see and use color is much more thoughtful now," she reflects. "I think overall, I’m just more intentional about what I’m doing." That same intention has aided Lily in exploring new worlds, in questioning what society tends to overlook, and helps her cultivate a deeper understanding of composition and color while simultaneously embracing creative freedom.
To Lily, being an artist is synonymous with being a dreamer, a freethinker, a world builder—it's about creating something that didn't exist before, forging new paths, and pushing boundaries. While the journey may be fraught with uncertainty, Lily is determined to explore every avenue to bring her artistic vision to life. "As much as I can do," she laughs, "I want to do it all." While Lily's key aspiration is to continue her practice as an artist in the areas of painting and music, she is also exploring complimentary career and work opportunities, such as art handling, production design/construction for theatrical sets, and conducting art workshops for children. "The most important thing is making sure that I still have time to make art," Lily emphasizes. Understanding that the path to success is unique for each artist, devoid of a one-size-fits-all blueprint, Lily encourages others to "always lead with what you’re most excited about... whatever makes your heart sing." In following one's own lead, the art created could very well be "more expansive for the world," as Lily believes. Someone else may hear the same tune—you just never know. So, create without hindrance.
