2026 | Maine Artist Fellowship | Visual Arts Fellow

Artist Statement:

Lihua grew up in a small, rural village in Taiwan where her parents were farmers and two of her grandparents were herbalist healers and one a midwife. As a child she witnessed the respect her parents had for their land and the noble dedication, reverence and care her grandparents shared with her village. Those ideals are manifest in her global perspective as well as in her installations, performances and sculptures. Working with natural, organic, biodegradable and recyclable materials Lihua creates sculpture, and site-specific installations that are often combined with performance. She has recently moved to Midcoast Maine, after living in Solon, Maine for over 20 years and is inspired daily by the natural beauty, the dynamic seasonal changes and the ingenuity, integrity and warmth of people in Maine. Her art acknowledges and engages the surroundings, whether it is a grove of Red Pine or a museum gallery, the space is the focal point. Lihua's goal in all of her works is to create an open space for reflection and participation, and to remind us of the better angels that we all have in common.

Bio:

Lihua Lei Farley is an installation artist, performance artist and sculptor living in Cushing, Maine, who uses natural, organic, biodegradable and recyclable materials to create engaging, fertile spaces that encourage participation and reflection. Lihua's art has addressed themes of healing, transformation, environmental stewardship, climate change, impermanence, aging and death. As an installation artist Lihua thoughtfully integrates the essence of the site, the surrounding landscape and site specific natural elements into her art whether it is installed in a museum gallery or a pristine natural setting. She has used living trees, a farm pond, a stream bank, straw, lac, rice, ice and clay as media for her art. Her works have been installed in natural settings in Ohio, Iowa and Maine, as well as indoor at Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C., Colby Museum of Art, Waterville, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, Bronx Museum of Art, NYC and University of New England Art Gallery, Portland.

Lihua completed a BS in Social Work in Taipei, she then traveled to Ohio where she completed her Masters Degree in Art Therapy at Wright State University. Wanting more formal fine art education she returned to Wright State University to receive her Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts, then on to University of Iowa where she received her Master's Degree in Fine Arts. Lihua is an alumni of Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture 1998 and 2021. Lihua has strived to make her art accessible to all and understands that art engages and inspires on many levels and strives to create art that will help to heal people and the environment. Lihua is currently commissioned to produce installations/performances for Georges River Land Trust and Langlais Art Preserve with openings in June, July and August of 2026.

On winning a Maine Artist Fellowship:

It is a great joy and an honor to be included amongst this year's awardees and past years fellows. I have always strived to create meaningful art that has a positive message, contributes to my community and is accessible to all people regardless of education or culture. Being selected as a Maine Arts Commission Fellow has bestowed in me a confidence that the themes in my art are both understood and appreciated. The Maine Arts Commotion grant will open more possibilities and resources for me as I continue to grow as an artist.

Artist Image Gallery: