Akin Member Highlight: Liliana Botero Rey
Liliana working in her studio at Akin St Clair. She is wearing headphones, glasses, and an apron over her blue shirt. Her dog, a miniature schnauzer, sits on her lap and leans her head on an open drawer.
What is Akin without our fantastic artists? There’s no other way we’d rather celebrate our 15th anniversary than by showing off our amazing members.
We’ve reached out to some of our longest-serving members to hear their Akin stories, starting with Liliana Botero Rey who has been an Akin member as well as a member of the Akin Team for ten years.
Since 2013, Liliana has been a big part of our studios. She’s made a lasting impact on our community, and has created some beautiful work during her time at Akin!
Liliana Botero Rey
Liliana Botero is a glass artist who studied and trained in Colombia, the United States and Canada, to specialise in different techniques to expand her knowledge in glass handling such as: stained glass, fused glass, mosaic, lampwork jewellery, and and more techniques. At the same time she studied Graphic Design. She owned and operated a glass art studio in Bogota-Colombia for 12 years before she moved to Canada in 2011 where she opened a glass studio in 2013.
Liliana has been enjoying working with glass since she was a student when she wished to become a professional glass artist and work with it all her life. Glass is her passion!
She feels satisfaction when she creates, but more when the people are attracted to the pieces she makes and pays to keep them. She loves living the life of an artist, working with her hands, creating through inspiration.
You can find more of Lili’s work on Etsy or on her instagram, @destellosglassart and keep reading below for our interview with Liliana to learn more about her long history with Akin and her creative work.
What brought you to Akin?
At the end of 2013, almost newly arrived in Canada, I came across this fabulous idea: Akin Collective, an affordable shared and dedicated spaces, as the home of my small business. After tirelessly searching in Toronto, for where I could land my ideas as a glass artist.
Can you give us a timeline of your Akin Journey? Where did it start? Which studios have you been a member at?
My first studio in 2013 was super small. I asked for the space they offered me to be partitioned because it was out of my budget. This was in the Lansdowne location, where I shared beautiful moments and made my first friends in this beautiful country, Canada. One of the coolest things is the exchange of ideas and techniques that you can share and at the same time receive from my studio mates.
Currently, the studio where I work is Akin St.Clair, my space is larger and more comfortable, "My Happy Place" where I work with all the equipment and tools that I have acquired over these 10 years, expanding the techniques with which I work with Destellos-Glass Art, my business.
Do you have any special memories associated with your time at Akin?
The programs and events that I have participated in with Akin have helped to promote and give recognition to my brand and at the same time promote the products that I make in this wonderful place.
Also, I can bring my furry baby Lara every day, she is my partner in crime.
Liliana is sitting in her studio at Akin St Clair. She is wearing a blue baseball cap, an apron, and her dog, a miniature schnauzer, is sitting on her lap. The walls of her studio are lined with work tables filled with a wide array of tools, beads, lighting equipment, and brushes. A framed photo of another schnauzer is mounted on the wall. A dream catcher is hanging from the ceiling.
A couple of years ago, my husband thought about leaving our condo and moving into a house. Where I would get "The whole basement" for my studio. The truth is, I'm not interested in staying isolated at home, I change having my workplace surrounded by the artistic environment, sharing with other artists and being able to expand my network? No way!!
What was your favorite Akin studio to work out of, and why?
I miss Lansdowne studios, it was a cozy and warm place with a lot of friends I could connect with during my first years with Akin, from there I made my first friends in Canada.
I like my current studio at St. Clair West. It is more comfortable. From here I also expanded my business.
An image of Liliana’s former studio in 2014. A table with a white tablecloth holds an elaborate display of her colourful glass work: picture frames, coasters, sculptures, jewellery. Necklaces and earrings are mounted to the wall in frames. In the corner is a desk with a rolling chair.
Do you have a routine for art making at the studio? Any special rituals to get your creativity flowing?
The earlier, the better. For me, it is so important to take advantage of the momentum that your body lets you bring. The best time is from morning till afternoon, sometimes late at night too, depending on the inspiration and/or the orders you can extend the work hours. Sometimes 8, 10, 12 or when I get crazy (in a good way) 14 work hours.
You've been creating art for a long time! What do you think is the key to keeping the practice going, long term?
Consistency and belief in what you make with love. People get attracted by them. It is all the emotions and energy you input into your work that makes the pieces so special and people feel this and pay for it.
A picture of Liliana Botero, Oliver Pauk, and Michael Vickers at Akin’s 10th Anniversary party in 2018. Behind them are large golden balloons which spell “Akin”. Oliver and Michael are wearing button up shirts and shorts, Liliana wears a pink dress with a jean jacket.
A huge thank you to Liliana for taking the time for this interview. We also thank you for your hard work in the studios every single week for the last 10 years keeping our spaces beautiful and safe for our members - and thank you for being a part of this community for ten years! We will be highlighting more Akin members this month as we continue to celebrate our 15 year anniversary!
Stay tuned throughout the month of November as we celebrate our anniversary on the Akin blog with more member highlights!
Want to celebrate in-person?
Akin will be hosting a 15th Anniversary drop-in celebration at Akin’s Remote Gallery on December 5 from 4-8pm for an evening filled with Akin memorabilia and nostalgia.
You can help Akin Projects continue to support arts in Toronto for another fifteen years! You can donate to Akin Projects here. Your contributions directly impact artists in ways that are meaningful to arts and culture in our city, as well as to the communities in which we work. We can’t thank you enough for your support.
