"How does a woman of the world bring art to Knoxville? Buy a block of buildings and open her own gallery.
Born in Tel Aviv, Ilana Lilienthal grew up with both Middle Eastern and European cultures, which cemented her foundational interest in diverse artistic impressions. Bilingual (German and Hebrew), Ilana spent her childhood traveling through Europe, embracing the art, music, and dance that her parents exposed her to. She wound up studying art history, her favorite being Christian iconography of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Ilana eventually landed in New York City in the late 80s, which fed her creativity and provided space to develop her own style.
“I was always painting,” she says. “Being in New York at that time was interesting. People started doing graffiti on the subway trains, and you had to be careful where you went. And then in the early 90s, the city was a little more spiritual. It affected my art.”
Ilana moved to Florida in the mid-90s, where she started experimenting with mixed media, painting murals, and establishing herself in the art community. She played an integral role in the development of Wynwood, Miami’s central creative and cultural space, complete with craft breweries, food halls, boutiques, galleries, and street art. It was a vibrant time, but one that would eventually end and lead Ilana to Knoxville."
— Jennie Treadway-Miller, Knoxville City Lifestyle