Based in Manchester, Jae Lily (she/they) is an enthusiastic, determined, and highly motivated creative working across a range of disciplines, with a personal focus on visual art and illustration and holding a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Fashion Art Direction from Manchester School of Art/Manchester Fashion Institute (part of Manchester Metropolitan University). They are also undertaking a master’s degree in Illustration, co-taught with Graphic Design.

Their work is rooted in the concept of the human experience, exploring representations of the mundane and aiming to showcase aspects of modern living that often go unnoticed, presenting them in whimsical ways that encourage viewers to seek out more joy in small parts of daily life. Their ideas and ethos stem from struggles with mental health and neurodivergency as a young person, and the reclamation of childlike curiosity in adult life, informing their work in ways that prioritise connection, community, and playfulness.

Alongside their full-time student support role at Manchester Metropolitan University, they are also a mentor for Arts Emergency, working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them access the arts industry and pursue creative careers and/or higher education.

Their current focus is on experimentation and creating a varied portfolio of work that emphasises their strong skillsets across multiple practices, from graphic design to spatial design and curation, from event photography/videography to self-publishing and bookmaking.

Jae is also co-director and founder of youmatter, an events collective dedicated to creating immersive dance nights and exhibitions.