Lili Flores, Ph.D., in Culture and Performance. Flores is a transdisciplinary artist and scholar living in Tovaangar (Los Angeles, California); alumna of UCLA Arts, department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance.
Dedicated scholar, artist, and activist specializing in community-based and qualitative methods, pedagogy, and museum and curatorial studies. Passionate about fostering inclusive communication and interdisciplinary collaboration within humanities-driven environments.
With a background in sociocultural anthropology, archaeology, fine art and digital media, I synthesize ways in which we can tell our plural histories. Research and arts activism conducted with various social groups and peoples has allowed for me to apply various teaching and learning practices towards art-making, curating interactive exhibitions and programming.
As a Coca descendent, raised near Kuruvungna (West Los Angeles)–much of my own fluid identity informs my research interests in Mesoamerican ethno-archaeology, education, and museum & curatorial studies. The driving force of my research and artistic practice is the trajectory of storytelling as means of performing personal identity and mapping memories.
Workshops / Presentations
Embodied Auditory Memory Workshop, West LA Sawtelle, bundy triangle popup2, 2025
Sounds as Resistance Presentation, Creative Arts Symposium, Citrus College, Panelist, 2025
Tówla: Shifting Consciousness in Native Arts Practice Convening, LACMA, Great Oak Press, UCLA, Presenter, 2024
UCLA QGrad Conference Convener, 2024
UCLA Decolonial Theory + Practice Speaker Series: Counter Mapping Articulates What Is Between; 2021.
Story + Value Mapping Workshop, counterforce lab; 2021.
ABC Abolition Workshop; UCLA Prison Education Program, 2020.
Self-Help Graphics S.O.Y. Artista, Virtual Reality Workshop, TecnoLatinx; 2019.
UCLA, American Indian Studies, Carrying Our Ancestors Home; 2019.
Empowering the Next Generation in Emerging Tech, Latinx in Animation & TecnoLatinx XR Labs; 2019.
Art and Identity, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Anthropology and Archaeology Film Festival, 2018.
Intersectional Artivism, UCLA Immigrant Youth Conference; 2018 + 2019.
Curatorial + Museum Projects
The Sea Around Us Installation by Rebeca Méndez Studio, at Laguna Art Museum; 2022-2023.
Californian Archaeology Month Clay Workshop, Skirball Museum, 2018.
Getty Museum Undergraduate Internship, Will Rogers Historic Ranch House; 2018.
Project M Venice, Art Gallery; 2017.
Fowler Museum; 2016-2017.
Cotsen Institute of Archaeology; 2017.
Dirty Sink, Trunk Art Gallery; 2014.
Oakgrove Art Show, Beyond Baroque; 2012.
PCR Collective Exhibition, Art House Live; 2012.
Collaborating Organizations
cityLAB UCLA + Heart of LA (HOLA) Markings Oral History Project
Gabrielino~Tongva Springs Foundation
Santa Monica College, Anthropology, Earth Sciences Department
Santa Monica Great Park Coalition
West LA Sawtelle Neighborhood Council
UCLA Arts, Dean’s Student Council Representative 2019-2021
UCLA, Design|Media Arts, counterforce lab, 2021
UCLA Arts, World Arts and Cultures/Dance
UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies