
@designedbylili
lili is a multimedia artist, photographer, and organizer based in NYC and San Francisco. Her work, firmly rooted in research and theory, explores concepts of the body, beauty, perception of reality, and feminism.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Lili Price (aka Lili Bradford, she/her) studied photography, illustration, and art history at Parsons School of Design in NYC.
Much of her photographic work aligns with that of the Surrealists, both in mission to disorient and question subconscious norms and in aesthetics of distortion and mirror imagery. She uses practical or naturally-occuring distortions to point out the blurred line between what is considered Reality versus Alternate. This often exists in combination with her interest in the concept of beauty (both popular and aesthetic) and the female subject – both of which are scrutinized as having a standard ideal. Whenever working with imagery of women, nuance of the female persona through nonmale eyes is top of mind; her goal is to find spaces for women to pictorially exist outside of the fem archetypes (that of Mother, Damsel, Venus, and Monster).
Her most recent work interrogates the body as a concept: what makes a body normal or able, cultural experiences of having particular bodies, gendered body parts, and the relationship between the Self and its container. As an invisibly-disabled young woman, her own life has triggered her to deeply consider mental-physical existence and the significance of the body as home, object, and self. Given the 21st Century’s emphasis on decorporealization (elimination of human physical labor, focus on virtual presences), such exploration is relevant and vital.
Lili also works in ceramic sculpture and commercial illustration, and is an avid curator of knowledge in Modern Art and Women Artists history (subjects she has taught via nonprofits). She works in VE at the International Center of Photography, is Head Assistant for Unsigned Models LLC, and founded/runs Quiddity Collective (a bimonthly illustration zine and artist collective, nonprofit).
Learning
2019-2024
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN - BFA: major in illustration, minors in photography & art/design history
2021-2023
SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES - World Art History Certificate
2018
ACADEMY OF ART - Precollege Program
2018
SADIE VALERI ATELIER
2017
SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO - ECP Intensive (Experimental Drawing)
Employment + Experience
2025-P
UNSIGNED MODELS: Head Assistant
2024-P
INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Visitor Experience Associate
2024-P
FOTOLAB NYC - Studio Manager
2024-P
QUIDDITY COLLECTIVE - Founder, Organizer, Editor
2024-2025
LAHN - Sales Associate
2014-2019
DESIGNED BY LILI - Founder, Illustrator
2017-2018
TANTRUM - Salesperson
Teaching
2020-P
FREELANCE Art College Application/Portfolio Advisor
2020-2021
LEARNING UNLIMITED / SPLASH RAINSTORM - "History of Western Modern Art (1850-1950): Journey to Abstraction" + "History of Western Modern Art (Post-War): Artist as Activist"
2021
UNITED UNDER ARTS Visiting Lecturer
2020-2022
WAVE LEARNING FESTIVAL - "History of Western Modern Art" + "Portfolio Development: Applying to Art Colleges" + "Know Their Names: Female Artists Throughout History"
Group Shows
2024
AGORA GALLERY: NY ILY
2024
2023, 2024
PARSONS ILLUSTRATION: Senior Show
PHOTOFEAST Biannual Pinup
2019
INCLINE GALLERY: Ugly - Curator, Installer, Artist
2017
ADOBE BOOKS GALLERY
Publication (Selection)
Specialties & Skills
Extensive knowledge of: modern art history (1850-1980), female artists, feminist theory, philosophy
Mental health & disability advocacy, CBT & MBSR skills
Mediums of specialty: digital photography, charcoal, ceramics
Classically trained pianist
2024
AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY 40 Book: AI-AP Award Winner
2021
ONLY CHILD "1 BY 1" Biannual Book: Cover
2021
POZA Magazine
2021
2021
MARIKA Magazine
ART OF PORTRAIT Magazine
2021
2021
MOB JOURNAL: Cover Story
TOP POSTERS Magazine: Cover
2021
HORIZONT Magazine, 2x