Lucien Lii of San Francisco on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Lucien Lii and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lucien, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
I like this question! For work, I tend to act fast, but in my own art practice, I’ve definitely benefited from slowing down and revisiting my work over time. I prefer to explore different ways of photographing, experiment more with chemicals, and play with various printing processes.

Another reason is that I work with chemicals a lot when making prints which means slowing down gives me a better chance to make sure I don’t mess anything up!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Lucien Liu. I’m a visual artist originally from China, and I work primarily with photography. My work often centers around landscapes, but more than depicting places, I use them as a way to reflect on time, change, and a kind of quiet self-sustaining rhythm in nature.

I spend a lot of time observing: just being present in a space and noticing the small, often overlooked details. That slow process helps me connect with my own shifting emotions and sense of growth. I hand-print all of my images using a mix of traditional and contemporary techniques. The process itself is very meditative for me, and the small scale of the prints feels true to the personal, introspective nature of my work.

Alongside my art practice, I’m also the Curator at the Gallery at Leica Store San Francisco, where I get to collaborate with photographers and help bring diverse creative voices to our community.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I would say the biggest influence on my path has been myself.

I was born into a family of engineers. Growing up in that environment, I naturally became good at math and physics, and for a long time, it seemed like I was headed toward a technical career. But deep down, I felt something was missing. Something that would make me truly love what I do. I found myself caught between being the “good child” who follows expectations and taking the risk of pursuing a completely different path.

More importantly, I knew that before I could even propose such a change to my family, I needed to make sure my heart and mind were aligned. That process of introspection of learning to listen to myself honestly wasn’t easy, but it was essential. I’m fortunate to have a very supportive family, but the real transformation came from building a dialogue within myself, understanding what truly drives me, and having the courage to follow that. That inner conversation continues to shape who I am today, both as an artist and as a person.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I don’t think so. Regret feels like a useless emotion to me. There will always be another path if the one before didn’t work out. I try not to dwell on what could’ve been. I’d rather to save that energy for the next journey.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I think so.

Being honest with myself is an essential part of both my art practice and my life. If I’m not true to who I am, how could I possibly express myself to others through my work? Without that honesty, I would only find chaos within.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes and no. I don’t usually set very distant goals for my projects. Taking things one step at a time feels more natural to me. It’s simply my way of working.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Portrait of me by Heather Snider.
The photographs by Lucien Liu.

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