UTM grad weaves together art and science to meet marginalized communities where they are.
U of T Mississauga graduate Lilith Alexandria Lawrence uses her art to make health care more inclusive and welcoming for all. “A lot of communities of colour don’t have very positive experiences dealing with health care systems and practitioners,” Lawrence explains.
“I want patients to know that someone cares for them and feel less afraid.”
Lawrence has always been drawn to nature. “Ever since I was really young, I was fascinated with nature and animals; I loved nature documentaries.” But she feared that her disabilities might be a barrier to work in the sciences. “I don’t have the sensory constitution for field work. Being outside can be very difficult for me.” Art became a way for her to engage outdoor scenes imaginatively.
Lawrence’s love of science eventually led her to enroll in life science at UofT St. George where she double majored in Human Biology and Evolutionary Ecology, though she struggled to envision a career that would fit all her passions. “I was having a bit of a crisis, feeling like a fish out of water. I didn’t know what I wanted to do in the future.”
That crisis was deepened by her blossoming awareness of her identity as a trans woman. “Until you accept yourself…there’s a lot of emotional pain that you aren’t aware you’re carrying,” Lawrence explains.
Art helped Lawrence find her bearings at U of T. She volunteered as an illustrator for the Varsity student newspaper and joined several artistic communities at UTM. “I learned how to study; I got healthier; I was going to therapy … I was much more put together.”
Ultimately, everything clicked for Lawrence during an independent research project in which she crafted diagrams for laboratory manuals for U of T biologist Prof. Christopher Garside. “It made me think about how we could facilitate learning using illustration. I read a lot of papers on how design can be used to organize information in a way that aids the target audience.”
Lawrence has since earned a master’s of science in biomedical communications from U of T and is working now on a project with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to improve educational animations tailored for young adults. She is excited to implement design styles and languages that will connect with teens and support them in crisis.
More broadly, Lawrence wants to use her training to help people rediscover the beauty of science through art. “I’m using my skills as an illustrator to bring life and levity to science in a way that makes learning compelling, accessible, and memorable.”
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Explore the power and purpose of Lawrence’s art here.
Learn more about U of T’s first-in-Canada program in biomedical communications here.