As a young artist who has grown up in an age of hyper-connectedness and an ever-growing collective consciousness, Liya is constantly engaged in a cycle of reframing and recontextualizing my understanding of self. She is interested in the ways that contemplating 'self' can be a useful tool to ground one's understanding of the world. She believes that it is critical to pause and examine how we know, as it reveals many of the overlooked norms that guide our everyday life. Through examining 'self', Liya is extending that investigation into the social and political factors that influence my state of being and knowing. Liya finds inspiration from Queer political theory, Afro Surrealism, and the work of Adrian Piper. She is also aware of how all she consumes and experiences informs her work, and that the 'self' is not made in a vacuum. Her peers, social media, everyday interactions, and much more have all influenced how she makes. Liya would describe her works as "semi-fictional autobiographies" and uses self-portraiture as a grounding device for all of the thoughts, feelings, and associated concepts that arise when making a piece.
