Renowned Visual Artist & Creative Placemaking Pioneer; Founder of The Village of Arts & Humanities; TED Speaker; Author of "Awakening Creativity"
Lily Yeh Biography
Lily Yeh is a Chinese-American visual artist and community organizer known for her leadership in the creative placemaking movement and her impact on community art initiatives. After earning an MFA from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Fine Arts, Yeh spent more than three decades as a professor of painting and art history at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. A pivotal moment in her career occurred when dancer and educator Arthur Hall invited her to create a public art installation in an abandoned lot in North Philadelphia. This project led to the founding of The Village of Arts and Humanities, a nonprofit organization serving over 10,000 low-income youth and families across a 260-square-block area of North Philadelphia.
During Yeh's 18 years as founder and executive director, The Village of Arts and Humanities became a model for community building through art, receiving recognition such as the Coming Up Taller Award from the President's Committee on Arts and Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, the gold medal Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. Yeh has received numerous fellowships and awards, including a Pew Fellowship in the Arts, a Lila Wallace-Arts International Fellowship, and honorary doctorates from Villanova University, Syracuse University, and the University of Massachusetts. Her work in community art and creative placemaking has been recognized by organizations worldwide.
Yeh later founded Barefoot Artists, Inc., a nonprofit organization that applies her community art methodology to projects internationally. Through Barefoot Artists, she has led projects in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Ecuador, Palestine, and China, focusing on training local residents, organizing communities, and using art for healing and rebuilding. Notable projects include the Rwanda Healing Project, where Yeh worked with genocide survivors to create the Rugerero Genocide Memorial, and her collaboration with migrant children at the Dandelion School near Beijing, which she documents in her book "Awakening Creativity." She also co-authored "Healing from Genocide in Rwanda: Rugerero Survivors Village, an Artist Book."
Yeh's life and work are featured in the documentary film "The Barefoot Artist," directed by Glenn Holsten and Daniel Traub. Her papers are preserved in the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution. Yeh has delivered a TED Talk titled "How Art Transforms Brokenness Into Beauty." She has also led community workshops in Asheville, North Carolina, supporting residents affected by natural disasters. Yeh's career demonstrates the role of visual art, creative placemaking, and community engagement in fostering healing and transformation.
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Speaking fees for Lily Yeh, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Lily Yeh are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Lily Yeh, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Lily Yeh speak about?
Lily Yeh is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Art & Design, Asian & Pacific Heritage, Creativity, Culture, Disruptive Thinking, Family & Parenting, Influential Women, Social Activism, Storytelling, TED, Thought Leadership -
Where does Lily Yeh travel from?
Lily Yeh generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
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Lily Yeh is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Lily Yeh for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Lily Yeh generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Damon Davis, Shaghayegh Cyrous, Rumaitha Al Busaidi, Ruth E. Carter and Simón Silva. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Lily Yeh for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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