Lily Yeh

Lily Yeh is a Chinese-American artist celebrated internationally for her innovative approach to community building through the arts. The founder of Barefoot Artists, an organization dedicated to bringing art to underserved communities worldwide, Yeh eschews traditional studios and galleries for the streets and walls of the world. Her collaborative projects with local communities transform neglected spaces into vibrant, healing environments. Her public art is deeply personal, reflecting her mission to revitalize areas often viewed as "broken."

Born in China and raised in Taiwan, Yeh moved to the United States in the 1960s to attend the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Fine Arts. She co-founded The Village of Arts and Humanities in North Philadelphia, where she served as Executive Director for 18 years. During her tenure, she developed sister projects in Kenya and Rwanda, laying the groundwork for her global outreach. Under her leadership, The Village of Arts and Humanities became a national model for creative placemaking and community empowerment. Yeh's projects have not only improved physical environments but also promoted economic development and preserved indigenous art and culture. In 2002, she founded Barefoot Artists to extend her transformative work to impoverished communities around the globe.

Her dedication to bridging community-building and art has led to numerous accolades, including the Academy Gold Medal of Honor Award and the Leadership for a Changing World Award from the Ford Foundation. Yeh and her work have also been recognized by the Rudy Bruner Award and the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. Yeh's life and work are the subject of the feature-length documentary "The Barefoot Artist." Her belief that art is a human right fuels her mission.