About
Lili Holland is a fiber artist based in New Jersey.
She creates one-of-a-kind pieces that emerge through process and intuition. The work is quiet, tactile, color-driven. Made to be lived with.
Born in São Paulo, Brazil to Portuguese parents who later emigrated to the United States, Lili comes from a family of makers. Seamstresses, knitters, crocheters. Women who made out of necessity while infusing their work with beauty and care. This heritage gave her a deep appreciation for craft and the desire to continue that tradition. Working with wool as her primary medium connects her to that long line of women.
Her path here has been winding. She studied photography and design in college, then spent decades in the graphic arts industry. In all that time, she made things with her hands. Knitting came first and became a great love. Then felting, which opened something different. The process is slow, quiet, meditative; a practice of letting go and allowing what emerges.
Approach
Some pieces begin with a clear plan. Others unfold as the work happens, guided by color, texture, the way the wool wants to move. This is intuitive work, but intuition doesn't mean lack of intention. It means following the process, relying on what I know, and being willing to explore without always knowing the outcome.
I source natural fibers thoughtfully, mostly wool, and show up to the work daily. Inspiration can come from anywhere: nature, color, a gesture, an idea. But I don't wait for it to strike. This is a practice. I build the foundation, exercise the muscles, stay engaged. Sometimes something magical happens.
When I'm immersed in making, I feel most connected. To the material, to the long line of makers before me, to my own humanity. That connection is what I hope the work offers to others.
Wool is magic.