Lili Lakich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lili Lakich
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Lakich in 1984
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| Born |
Liliana Diane Lakich
June 4, 1944 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | London School of Film Technique, Pratt Institute |
| Known for | Neon sculpture |
| Movement | First director for the Museum of Neon Art |
Liliana Diane Lakich (born June 4, 1944) is an American artist. She is famous for her amazing art made with neon sculptures. From a young age, Lili was fascinated by bright neon signs. She built her career around art that lights up, because it can show strong feelings. Lakich has created many art pieces for private collectors and public spaces. She even helped the city of Los Angeles with a street-lighting project. She also helped start the Museum of Neon Art (MONA). This was the first museum to collect art made with electricity. Her sculptures have been shown in important books about modern art.
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Early Life and Inspiration
Lakich was born in Washington, D.C.. But her family moved often because her father was in the military. They lived in Tucson, Arizona and then in California. Her father was sent to the Korean War.
The family often went on road trips. During these trips, Lili saw many neon signs along the roads. She loved how these signs lit up the night.
My family was into road trips…[o]ur idea of recreation was to get in the car and drive on a weekend. So we would pick the motel by which one had the best neon sign.
—Lakich in interview with Curve, 2002.
Lili remembered how the darkness came alive with bright colors. She saw images of cowboys, Indians, and huge trucks made of light. These neon signs tried to get drivers to stop at motels or truck stops. Lili always remembered the neon signs.
She went to many different schools. She attended six 5th grades and three high schools in the U.S. and Germany. After high school, she went to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. She wasn't happy with the usual art classes there. So, she left Pratt to study at the London School of Film Technique in London, England. But filmmaking was too much of a group activity for her. She returned to Pratt and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1967.
While at Pratt, Lili went through a difficult time. This led her to create her first light sculpture. It was a self-portrait with tiny light bulbs. They blinked down her face like tears. She felt this was the first time she truly expressed herself through art. For Lili, art helps her deal with strong feelings. She believes that by putting difficult emotions into art, you can understand them better.
Building a Career in Light Art
After graduating from Pratt Institute, Lakich moved to San Francisco for a short time. Then, in 1968, she settled in Los Angeles. She found Los Angeles, with all its lights, very inspiring.
Lakich started showing her neon sculptures in 1973. Her first solo art show was in 1974. A famous art magazine, Artforum, even wrote about it. In 1980, Lakich was one of ten artists whose work was shown in a major art exhibition at the Woman's Building.
In 1982, Lakich founded the Museum of Neon Art (MONA) in Los Angeles. She was its first director until 1999. She also wrote books about her art. These include Neon Lovers Glow in the Dark (1986) and LAKICH: For Light. For Love. For Life. (2007).
Her sculptures have been featured in important books about modern art and neon art. Her work is also in many private and company collections. She has had solo art shows in Tokyo, Paris, and Los Angeles.
Famous Artworks by Lili Lakich
Drive-In (1984)
In 1984, Lakich created Drive-In. A company called Unity Savings asked her to make it for their new office in Beverly Hills. The office was on the old site of Dolores Restaurant. This restaurant was famous for being one of Los Angeles's first drive-in diners. The restaurant had been torn down, which made many people sad. Lakich wanted to create a tribute to Dolores Restaurant.
L.A. Angel (1992)
Lakich created the L.A. Angel in 1992. It is on a wall in downtown Los Angeles. The city needed a light sculpture to make a dark area brighter. The L.A. Angel is made of lightweight aluminum and has neon lights. It represents the culture and spirit of Los Angeles.
Tell Me About Yourself (1995)
A few years later, Lakich was asked to create a sculpture for a large home in Santa Ana. She presented four ideas, and the owners loved this one. The sculpture is unusual because it's a neon piece placed outdoors at a home. It has become very popular with the couple's guests. They can even spot it from an airplane when flying home!
Flyaway (2009)
In 2009, she finished a very large public art piece called Flyaway. It is 114 feet long! It is located at the Van Nuys FlyAway Bus Terminal in Van Nuys. This sculpture has two figures: Pegasus (a winged horse) and a flying human shape. Both are made with neon and argon lights.
Selected Works
- Blessed Oblivion (1975), at the Museum of Neon Art
- Where the Eagle Flies (1990), in the lobby of the Washington Building, Los Angeles
- Drive-In (1984), at Unity Savings, Beverly Hills, CA
- L.A. Angel (1992), on South Olive Street, Los Angeles
- TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF (1995), a private commission in Santa Ana, California
- Guardian, at Miller Children's Hospital at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
- Buddha, at the Museum of Neon Art
- Flyaway (2009), at the Van Nuys FlyAway Bus Terminal, Los Angeles
