Though originally born in DC, Lila Hudgins moved to the coast of Panamá when she was just two years old. Lila had quite an abnormal childhood: she attended a small, international school founded by her mom where the students raised pigs and took wilderness survival classes, she spent her weekends cliff-jumping, surfing, and driving four-wheelers down the beach with her friends, and graduated high-school in a class of six. Lila credits this semi-rural lifestyle with her passion for artwork - because of such a small social circle, she had ample time on weekends to develop her hobbies.
Lila Hudgins - Emerging Artist
Now Lila, living in Ann Arbor, MI, has found that the best way to feel connected to home (and bring the tropical humidity she craves to snowy Ann Arbor), is to paint it. Through vibrant blues and greens, Lila creates intricate oil paintings that radiate tropicality. Through a range of abstraction, Lila paints botanicals, beach/surf scenes, and fauna that all together encapsulate the love she has for Panamá's land, life, and climate.
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Exhibitions and Fairs
Professional/Juried
Nov. 2024 Artist of the Month | Makeshift Gallery | Ann Arbor, MI
Sep. 2025 Kerrytown Artisan Market | Kerrytown | Ann Arbor, MI
July 2025 Ann Arbor Street Art Fair - The Original | Ann Arbor Art Fair | Ann Arbor, MI
Feb. 2025 Curtis Center Art Exhibit for Health Equity | Curtis Center | University of Michigan
Jan. 2025 The Stampede Exhibition | Stamps Street Gallery | University of Michigan
Aug. 2024 Emerge Exhibit | The Gutman Gallery | Ann Arbor, MI
April 2024 Evicted Art Market | Vacancy Storefront | Ann Arbor, MI
University/Student-organized
Jan. 2024 - Oct. 2025 "Run With Us" Exhibitions (3) | The Stampede Arts Org. | University of Michigan
Nov. 2023 - Oct. 2025 WTF! Art Fair (semesterly) | What the F Magazine | University of Michigan
Nov. 2023 Junk Drawer Student Exhibition | Helicon Art History Society | University of Michigan
April 2024 Homegrown Music Fest Art Vendor | Common Ground | University of Michigan
Nov. 2023, March 2024 Helicon Student Exhibitions | Helicon Art History Society | University of Michigan
Jan. 2024 Sound & Silence Student Exhibition | Canterbury House | Ann Arbor, MI
Projects, Publications and Awards
Sept. 2024 - Present Founder of Charity Art Exhibit and Collection | Painting for Panama | Ann Arbor, MI
May 2025 - July 2025 New Art New Artists | Ann Arbor Street Art Fair - The Original | Ann Arbor, MI
April 2024 - Dec. 2025 Emerging Artist Program | The Guild of Artists and Artisans | Ann Arbor, MI
Nov. 2024 Live Painting Performance | BOUND - Student Film Production | U-M
Aug. 2024 Juried “Best in Show” | The Gutman Gallery | Ann Arbor, MI
July 2024 BMW Ultimate Creator Challenge | BMW Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI