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BIO

Alabama native Lillis Taylor received her BFA in Industrial Design from the University of Washington, Seattle in 2003 and began working for book and toy development company, becker&mayer! books. As a product developer, Taylor was introduced to overseas manufacturing, which sparked an interest in US/China relations. Prior to making a decision about graduate school, Taylor moved to Wuhan, China to teach English, study Mandarin, and absorb Chinese culture. After one year of teaching, Taylor returned to Seattle and began pursuing a master's in China Studies from the UW's Jackson School of International Studies, receiving her degree in 2009.

 

Taylor's time in graduate school introduced her to teaching, grant-writing, and community development. While pursuing her degree, she maintained her artistic pursuits through a collaboration with her father, artist Trés Taylor. First conceived as illustrated robes for Trés' iconic monks, this collaboration would become the inspiration for Tré Lilli, a line of textiles Taylor designs using her father's imagery.

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Hoping to research Chinese communities embedded in Italy, Taylor detoured to Tuscany, supporting her now-husband's performative work as a graphic designer and photo-documentarian. 

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Taylor returned home to Birmingham, AL in 2010 and embarked on a decade of community development with a focus on how the arts can invigorate education and economic growth. To learn more about the nonprofit she co-founded with "Ms. Annie" Bryant, visit Bib & Tucker Sew-Op.

HIGHLIGHTS

BFA Industrial Design - UW, Seattle, WA (1998 - 2003)
Internship Tachineputa Float-builder - Goshogawara, Japan (Summer 2003)
Product Developer - becker&mayer! books, Seattle, WA (2003 - 2005)
Account Manager - becker&mayer! books, Seattle, WA (2005 - 2006)
English Teacher - Wuhan Experimental Primary School, Wuhan, China (2006 - 2007)
MA China Studies - UW, Seattle, WA (2007 - 2009)
Graphic Designer | Photographer - La Rotta, Italy (Fall 2009)

Teaching Artist - UAB's ArtPlay, Birmingham, AL (2010 - 2012)
Owner | Principal Designer - Tré Lilli, Birmingham, AL (2010 - Present)
Director of Programming - Desert Island Supply Co (DISCO), Birmingham, AL (2012 - 2014)
Artist-in-Residence - UAB's Institute for Arts in Medicine, Birmingham, AL (2014 - 2020)
Co-founder | Executive Director - Bib & Tucker Sew-Op, Birmingham, AL (2014 - 2021)
CFO - Bib & Tucker Sew-Op, Birmingham, AL (2022 - 2023)
Founder | Executive Director - The March Quilts, Birmingham, AL (2023 - Present)

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