About Liliana

Liliana Botero is a ceramic and glass artist who studied and trained in Colombia and the United States to specialize in different techniques to expand her knowledge in glass handling such as fused glass, mosaic, flame work jewellery, kiln formed glass, stained glass, cast glass sculpture, ceramics and sand blasting. At the same time Liliana studied Graphic Design in the Fine Art faculty.

She owned and operated a glass art studio in Bogota, Colombia for 12 years before moving to Canada in 2011 where she opened a glass studio in 2014 with Akin Collective.

With 23 years of experience, Liliana has enjoyed working with glass since she was a student and always wanted to become a professional glass artist.

She finds inspiration for her colourful jewellery and home decor designs from the natural world and passion for natural scenarios like landscapes; different shapes, brightness, translucent and tones that enhance the color range of life.

Liliana is the current technician of the ceramic and glass kilns at Akin St Clair. She sells her work through online shows and in some stores in the GTA.

We reached out to Lili to find out more about her work, her process, and her inspiration.

Akin: What are you curious about right now?

Liliana Botero: “I'm always interested in adding new skills to my professional knowledge as an artist. I'm a glass artist, but I'm open to learning different mediums. I love learning new skills, and growing my practice, knowing that everything is connected in the end. Right now I'm in a class to learn ceramic mold making.”

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Akin: What do you do to stimulate curiosity and inspiration?

LB: “Learning new techniques and seeing what other artists are making. As artists, we see other artists and what they do, this gives us ideas and inspiration to make new, exciting things.”

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Akin: Do you have a studio routine?

LB: “Coffee! I need it to start my day at the studio. I'm a full time artist and I run the ceramics kiln at Akin St Clair. Because of this, I am at the studio every week day, all day and sometimes on Saturdays too.”

Liliana Botero with her dog at her Akin St. Clair studio. Liliana is seated with her dog on her lap, surrounded by various pieces of studio equipment. In the far left corner, are the kilns she runs.

Akin: We’ve seen that hard work over many years! How do you get started on a new piece?

LB: “I have a notebook in which I do sketching and write notes about what I want to create. It helps keep my ideas organized, and I try to make everything I put in there, no matter how crazy of an idea it is.”

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Akin: Are you reading/listening to/watching right now which is inspiring you?

LB: “Latin music makes me happy while I work. When things are going well at the studio and I want to enjoy what I'm doing, Latin music is what I go to. But sometimes, when things get chaotic with so many things to do, when I really need to focus and calm down from all the things I have to do in a day, I listen to Enya or Karl Jenkins' song Adiemus. It's my anchor.”

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Akin: You have been with Akin for 11 years, what does your Akin studio mean to you?

LB: “My second home!”

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Akin: What advise would you tell your younger self about creating art?

LB: “Believe in yourself. Never stop learning.”

Learn more about Liliana’s work on instagram @destellosglassart

Book the ceramic and glass kilns at Akin St Clair with Liliana @ceramic.glass.kilns