Emily Lanius is a contemporary artist residing on the island of Maui, where she draws inspiration from the beautiful landscapes and community. Art is more than just passion for Emily. She creates because it is her kuleana - which is Hawaiian for spiritual responsibility. She knows in her bones that this is part of her purpose in this lifetime. Emily believes that it is everyone’s kuleana to tend the land, feed hungry people, and help others, which is why she also works on an organic farm. This intimate dance with the land inspires her creations and keeps her grounded in heart.

To Emily, art is alive and fueled by infinite spirit. She feels a sacred connection to her art, and creates from a place of deep reverence and gratitude. The further Emily goes into her creations, the more mystical she becomes.

In the words of her best friend, “Emily is a true renaissance woman.” In addition to her art practice, Emily is a classically trained ballerina and violist. She also graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2022 with a BSA in biology and a business minor. These other disciplines certainly influence Emily’s art to this day. Though she did not receive classical education in art, Emily has been creating her own art school experience. She learns through experimenting, mentorship, and life drawing classes she organizes herself.

Though she has explored various media, Emily’s favorite medium is acrylic pouring paint. She intentionally swirls the paint around with toothpicks rather than brushes, resulting in her melty, dreamy style. She loves pour paint because it feels like a science experiment to push the medium beyond how it is ordinarily used, and because the swirly style well conveys the interconnectedness of everything.

Emily’s art was exhibited in the Maui Arts and Cultural Center’s 2025 Biennial, a juried exhibition that showcased works from 45 artists across the state of Hawaii, out of a statewide open call of nearly 400 artists.

Emily is currently wrapping up a collection of landscape work - all gifted by her experiences on the Kalalau trail, which she hiked twice this year. She is also beginning a surreal series with the intention of capturing the incredible emotional healing journey she has experienced in Hawaii.