Because every human has a story, let me help tell yours.

Mili Manoj Patel is a New York–based multidisciplinary artist creating intuitive, poetic work across photography, video, and design that archives humanity through storytelling and lived experience. Through observational, staged, and archival imagery, she transforms ordinary moments into tangible memories, inviting viewers into spaces that language cannot fully bridge—spaces where time itself becomes a medium of play.

Rooted in her upbringing within an immigrant household where stories were sacred and visually preserved, her personal practice explores the intersections of culture, memory, and translation. Technically speaking, Mili’s work reflects her curiosity and experimentation with visual tools and technologies. She continues to expand her practice into animation, digital asset creation, and creative coding—constantly pushing the boundaries of what photographic and design-based work can be. 

As a first-generation Indian-American artist, she aims to redefine what a “stable career” in the arts can look like, especially for women of color breaking into creative industries. Her ultimate goal is to work as a creative director, crafting visual stories that resonate across time and build a lasting legacy within the editorial and entertainment worlds.

BFA, Parsons School of Design, 2025
Major: Photography
Minor: Communication Design

BFA Photo Thesis Exhibition — Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
May 2025
Displayed image-based works and photo books exploring memory, identity, and cultural heritage within the South Asian diaspora.

Lubov Gallery Group Exhibition — New York, NY
Apr 2024
Presented nine photographic works exploring surrealism, image distortion, and abstraction through experimental visual techniques.

Featured in Parsons Notes — Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
May 2022
Highlighted for a photographic series titled “I Dream in Technicolor,” recognizing accomplishments in the BFA undergraduate program.

Parsons Merit Scholarship — Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
2021 – 2025 
Awarded in recognition of academic achievement, creative excellence, and commitment to innovation in visual arts and design.