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Photographer, artist and educator Joli Livaudais describes her work as “transformative, playful and organic.”

Those are likely the words that most often come to mind when people view her installation, All That I Love, as well. This site-specific installation of up to 1,800 origami beetles folded from photographs of family, friends, artwork and objects of beauty that she created from 2013-19 was included in the Arkansas Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts’ Women to Watch: Paper Routes exhibition and at NMWA in Washington, D.C., in 2020.

The exhibit of her work, along with art by Kim Brewer, Linda Nguyen Lopez and Suzannah Schreckhise, toured Arkansas in 2021 with stops in Arkadelphia, El Dorado, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Little Rock and Pine Bluff.

“The media for All That I Love is photos printed on mulberry paper, aluminum foil, sewing pins and epoxy resin,” said Livaudais. “The beetles have the sewing pins embedded in their feet, allowing them to be mounted to drywall. Typically, the installation runs approximately 20 feet and has elements on the floor, walls and ceiling.”

Livaudais says being notified that she was to be included in the NMWA show was an incredible honor.

“Being informed that my work was selected was one of the most thrilling moments of my life,” she said. “When I first decided to take the plunge and become an artist, I set the goal to have my work displayed in a major museum. Being included in the NMWA exhibition was a profound experience because it meant that, by my own milestone, I was a ‘real’ artist. I was walking on clouds for weeks, and the memory still brings tears to my eyes!”

Originally scheduled for summer of 2020, the Washington exhibition opening was delayed until October 8, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The exhibition ran through January 18, 2021, with the museum requiring face masks and timed entries.

“Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, I was unable to attend the exhibition or install my work, which is a large part of the site-specific nature of the installation,” said Livaudais. “Although I understand the necessity of what happened, I do regret that I was not allowed to see the show, install the work myself or take advantage of the professional development opportunities normally afforded to those who achieve this honor.”

Curators and staff at NMWA worked with Livaudais and the 21 other artists included in the show via Zoom to make sure the installations met the artists’ exact specifications for their work.

“I am an art educator, and this exhibition took place as I was applying for tenure and promotion at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock,” said Livaudais. “I believe that this opportunity significantly bolstered my dossier and was instrumental in achieving tenure and promotion.”

All That I Love was also selected for the Elevate exhibition at 21c Gallery and Museum in Bentonville from October 2024 to April 2025 after 21c Curator Veronica Inberg saw the Paper Routes catalog.

“In addition to having my work seen throughout the state in the 2021 Arkansas tour, having the work up at 21c this year is a direct benefit of being part of Paper Routes,” she said. “I am deeply grateful for the support of the Arkansas Committee and the work that’s being done to support women artists in Arkansas.”

Livaudais was born in Lake Forest, Ill., and earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1994 and 1998. In 2013, she completed a master’s in fine art from Louisiana Tech University. She is now director of the School of Art and Design at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

“The responsibility of administration makes it more challenging to make time for my studio practice,” she said. “But I am still passionate about creating, and I’m excited about the opportunity to support the goals and growth of the faculty and student artists that I am privileged to work with every day.”

Livaudais now considers Arkansas home and says she loves all the state has to offer.

“Trust your voice, set clear boundaries and advocate for yourself,” she said. “The art world can be challenging, but together, persistence and confidence will carry us forward.”