Lili Lakich
Encyclopedia
Liliana Diane Lakich is an American artist best known for her work in neon sculpture
. Her sculptures have been included in major publications on contemporary sculpture, neon sculpture and feminist art including Signs
, and in many private and corporate collections. She has had solo shows in Tokyo
, Paris
and Los Angeles
.
, Lakich moved around a lot — she attended fifth grade at six different schools — and was frequently taken on road trip
s where she was exposed to roadside neon sign
s.
She attended Pratt Institute
in Brooklyn in New York, and then went on to attend the London Film School in England. She returned to Pratt and earned a Bachelor Fine Arts degree in 1967. While at Pratt she created her first light sculpture. After convincing a local sign company to teach her, she went on to incorporate neon into her work.
Lakich settled in Los Angeles in 1968 and began exhibiting neon sculpture in 1973 at Gallery 707 on La Cienega Blvd. Her first solo exhibition, at Womanspace in the Woman's Building
in 1974, garnered a review in Artforum
magazine by Peter Plagens where he commented "…the whole show is solid, however, I doubt whether Lakich will confine her development to static, confined neon, if for no other reason than the recent liberation of electric lights through process, video, and performance art."
But Lakich did not heed the critic's advice. She continued to work in neon sculpture and recently completed a 114-ft. long public art commission for the Van Nuys FlyAway at 7610 Woodley Ave. in Van Nuys.
From 1982, Lakich founded and served as first director for the Museum of Neon Art
in Los Angeles, remaining there until 1999.
Neon lighting
Neon lighting is created by brightly glowing, electrified glass tubes or bulbs that contain rarefied neon or other gases. Georges Claude, a French engineer and inventor, presented neon tube lighting in essentially its modern form at the Paris Motor Show from December 3–18, 1910...
. Her sculptures have been included in major publications on contemporary sculpture, neon sculpture and feminist art including Signs
Signs (journal)
Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society is a feminist academic journal established in 1975. It is published quarterly by the University of Chicago Press. Signs publishes articles on women's studies.- See also :* Cultural studies...
, and in many private and corporate collections. She has had solo shows in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Life and work
Growing up as a military bratMilitary brat
A military brat describes people who spend their childhood or adolescence while a parent serve full-time in the armed forces, and can also refer to the unique subculture and lifestyle of American military brats, the term refers to both current and former children of such families.Lifestyle: The...
, Lakich moved around a lot — she attended fifth grade at six different schools — and was frequently taken on road trip
Road trip
A road trip is any journey taken on roads, regardless of stops en route. Typically, road trips are long distances traveled by automobile.-Pre-automobile road trips:...
s where she was exposed to roadside neon sign
Neon sign
Neon signs are made using electrified, luminous tube lights that contain rarefied neon or other gases. They are the most common use for neon lighting, which was first demonstrated in a modern form in December, 1910 by Georges Claude at the Paris Motor Show. While they are used worldwide, neon signs...
s.
She attended Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
in Brooklyn in New York, and then went on to attend the London Film School in England. She returned to Pratt and earned a Bachelor Fine Arts degree in 1967. While at Pratt she created her first light sculpture. After convincing a local sign company to teach her, she went on to incorporate neon into her work.
Lakich settled in Los Angeles in 1968 and began exhibiting neon sculpture in 1973 at Gallery 707 on La Cienega Blvd. Her first solo exhibition, at Womanspace in the Woman's Building
Woman's Building
The Woman's Building was an non-profit arts and education center located in Los Angeles, California, in the United States. The Woman's Building focused on feminist art and served as a venue for the women's movement and was spearheaded by artist Judy Chicago, graphic designer Sheila Levrant de...
in 1974, garnered a review in Artforum
Artforum
Artforum is an international monthly magazine specializing in contemporary art.-Publication:The magazine is published ten times a year, September through May, along with an annual summer issue...
magazine by Peter Plagens where he commented "…the whole show is solid, however, I doubt whether Lakich will confine her development to static, confined neon, if for no other reason than the recent liberation of electric lights through process, video, and performance art."
But Lakich did not heed the critic's advice. She continued to work in neon sculpture and recently completed a 114-ft. long public art commission for the Van Nuys FlyAway at 7610 Woodley Ave. in Van Nuys.
From 1982, Lakich founded and served as first director for the Museum of Neon Art
Museum of Neon Art
The Museum of Neon Art is a museum that exists to a encourage learning and curiosity through the preservation, collection, and interpretation of neon art. The museum has had several locations since its foundation; it is presently located at 136 West Fourth Street in Los Angeles, California, and is...
in Los Angeles, remaining there until 1999.