Community Gallery Exhibition

September 6th – October 23rd, 2024

Opening Reception:

September 6th from 6-9pm

Purchase artwork from the exhibtion: 

“More Myself” is an exploration of self-discovery, and transformation. This three-person exhibition brings together the works of Lilliana Cameron, Leslie Lakes, and Emily Wilson, each of whom delves deeply into personal narratives, using their art as a mirror to reflect their evolving identities.

Lilliana Cameron’s work serves as an homage to her journey of reconnection and self-discovery. Through her exploration of newly uncovered family ties, she opens a door long hidden to her. Her watercolors, oils, and charcoals embody the intricate beauty of finding one’s place within a complex web of relationships and histories. Lilliana’s pieces invite viewers to ponder their own self-understanding and the familial bonds that shape who we are.

Leslie Lakes uses collage as a metaphorical tool in “calibrating” life’s journey. Her work oscillates between lighthearted humor and deep introspection, presenting a balanced reflection on the choices that define us. Leslie’s collages challenge viewers to consider how choosing joy and freedom over fear and negativity can change your outlook.

Emily Wilson captures the essence of navigating life’s transitions with purpose and intent. Her works, steeped in the delicate dance between light and shadow, reflect the tension of change. As she grapples with significant life shifts—relocating, committing to new relationships, and embarking on a fresh career—Emily channels the power of personal growth amid the chaos of life, offering a relatable narrative for those seeking to find their footing.

The artworks of Cameron, Lakes, and Wilson create a dialogue about the process of becoming. This art exhibition encourages visitors to reflect on their own journeys, and embrace the effort in self-discovery as an ongoing, ever-evolving process.

Exhibiting Artists

Lilliana Cameron

Greenville, SC

Read Bio

Lilliana Cameron was born in New Mexico but has lived most of her life in the Carolinas. She
currently resides in Greenville, SC after making her way from Charleston, Asheville, and even
the highlands of Scotland. She is a huge fan of nature and an animal lover who often finds
inspiration from the natural world. Earning her B.A. in studio art and arts management from the College of Charleston in 2020, she works mostly in watercolor, oil, and charcoal. She seeks to create pieces that can help construct a greater sense of identity and self-understanding.
Her work has been shown at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art in 2018, 2019, and 2020 during the Young Contemporaries exhibits, as well as the Columbia Museum of Art in the 2016 Lexington Medical Center’s Art of Healing juried competition. She has also had work published in Carolina Muse: Literary & Arts Magazine Volume I No. II & Volume III No. III. She currently has a studio space at Railside Studios in West Greenville.

Read Artist Statement

This collection of work began in 2021, shortly after connecting with an abundance of previously unknown family members. After graduating from college and finding myself at a crossroad, this discovery felt like a door opening to a part of myself that I had closed off for so many years.
Connecting with people I never thought I would and hearing stories of people that I was
unfortunately never able to meet taught me a lot about myself, forgiveness, and what it means to be a family. Life and love can be untraditional and scary and so beautiful. These pieces are all an homage to this continual journey and pursuit of self discovery.

Leslie Lakes

Greenville, SC

Read Bio

While born in NJ, I grew up in an artistic Bohemian household in Greenwich Village, NYC. My mother was a fashion designer and my father a metallurgical engineer. While growing up in NYC, I attended the Greenwich House School of Pottery and Painting (Jones Street), as well as the Greenwich House School of Music (Barrow Street). In 1967, my family relocated to Paris, France where I schooled at the Lycee International in St. Germain-en-Laye, before returning to the States to continue my education.

Frequently described as a “Renaissance woman”, and apart from a diversified business
background, I’m also an established writer, former singer/songwriter/performer for children, and enjoy being vitally active in community affairs and various fund-raising events. In 2015, I founded a Marin County, CA 501 (c) 3 Non Profit Project called P.A.T.H. (Prison Arts Touching Hearts) working with incarcerated artists throughout the U.S.

My artwork (which has been sold throughout the U.S. and abroad, and exhibited in various
galleries within the Eastern Tri-State area, as well Marin, West Marin and Mendocino Counties, CA) is eclectic, often quirky; bringing into play photography, singular and mixed media drawings and paintings. This is often combined with my love for animals – as seen in a sizable collection of my paintings of various animals on vintage sheet music. For the past several years, I have become fascinated with creating unique art shadow box pieces,
and various other 3-dimensional assemblages and collages by incorporating a palette of nostalgic antique and vintage items: old photographs, unusual and rare ephemera, antique prints and vintage collectibles. I strive to create work that is witty, tactile and sometimes interactive. The juxtaposition of different elements is designed to provoke thought, tickle your senses, make you smile and bring you joy.
She currently live in Greenville, SC with my husband and our three cats.

Read Artist Statement

My work is eclectic and often quirky in nature, bringing into play photography, singular, as well as mixed media drawings and paintings.
This is often combined with my love for animals – as seen in a sizable collection of my paintings of various animals on vintage sheet music.
For the past several years, I have become fascinated with creating collages and unique art shadow box pieces, and various other 3-
dimensional assemblages by incorporating a palette of nostalgic antique and vintage items: old photographs, unusual ephemera, antique prints and vintage collectibles. I strive to create work that is witty, tactile and sometimes interactive. The juxtaposition of different elements is designed to provoke thought, tickle the senses, make one smile and to bring joy to the viewer.

Emily Wilson

Greenville, SC

Read Bio

Emily received her BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2018, where she discovered her love for charcoal and soft pastels. Emily moved to Greenville from Charleston in December 2023 along with her husband Patrick, and pup, Henry. While heavily influenced by figurative realism, Emily’s style is unique with its focus on contrast. Studying light’s intimate relationship with shadow brings her joy as an artist, a feeling that shines through in her work.

Emily is forever learning about her artistic style and expression. From the time she could hold a pencil, it was apparent Emily had an inclination toward the arts. As a child, she would take the tops of tissue boxes with an oval opening to “frame” her work and hang them around her home. While the materials have changed and the frames have become sturdier, she still has that same child-like excitement when seeing her work completed.

Read Artist Statement

As Emily explores each new phase of life, she discovers more of herself. With significant life events happening one after the other recently, newly married, settling into a new home, navigating the loss of loved ones, she is learning more and more about who she truly is. While creating the work hanging before you, Emily makes space for herself to reflect inward and explore what is happening in her core. From that, she is able to grow into a stronger version of herself. When viewing the work on the walls, take a moment to read the titles, step back, pause, and reflect inward for a moment. What do you need to feel more yourself?