Lillian Stephen
PATTERN IN RELIEF
Fueled by a lifelong passion for design history and pattern, she finds profound satisfaction in the intricate world of geometry. Within her work, she embraces symbols, abstraction, and repetition as potent elements of expression. Vague symbols, both universal and personal, invite viewers to interpret the artwork for themselves. She considers pattern making a kind of play, like building with blocks as a child, moving pieces around until they harmoniously align. Her intention is to infuse the artwork with a sense of vibrant energy, eliciting a feeling of humming, dancing, and perpetual motion. The garments and objects she sews from her textiles, along with her newer prints on paper, become extensions of this creative process.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Recently, Lillian has expanded her approach to craft and play into her works on paper, experimenting with blind embossed chine-collé prints. The process involves hand-cutting colored papers, adhering them to a backing sheet, and then embossing the surface with cut chipboard and string using an etching press. The resulting prints have an almost quilted effect. They’re both soft and delicate from the embossing, yet grounded by the bold, graphic quality of the cut paper shapes. Lillian feels that she is just beginning to scratch the surface of possibilities with this new technique..
ARTIST BIO
Lillian Stephen was born and raised in St. Louis. After earning her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2017, she returned to the region to launch her creative practice. Her studio, housed in a former delicatessen, has been transformed into a vibrant printmaking and design space. In 2018, she launched LCQKS, a textile design studio specializing in small-batch, hand-printed fabrics made exclusively with natural fibers and non-toxic inks. Her bold, pattern-driven work draws inspiration from mid-century design, architectural ornament, and the visual language of folk art. LCQKS products are sold through independent boutiques nationwide, bridging the space between art and functional design. In addition to her textile work, she also creates original works on paper that extend her exploration of color, geometry, and repetition.
