Mikaela Li

I am drawn to the quiet power of observation—both of the world around me and the world within. My work spans pencil drawing, digital art, and photography, each medium offering a different lens through which I explore identity, beauty, and everyday narratives. Through self-portraiture, I reflect on the shifting nature of self. These drawings become visual diaries, mapping emotion, memory, and personal growth. Still life allows me to pause and appreciate the subtleties of the present—an arrangement of objects, the play of light, the stillness between moments.Photography is my way of experiencing the world outwardly. When I travel, I’m drawn to scenery that feels alive with story: quiet streets, distant landscapes, fleeting light. These images are more than documentation—they’re emotional landmarks. Art, for me, is a bridge between the internal and external, the seen and the felt. It’s how I make sense of the world—and invite others to do the same.

9th to 12th grade