Lillian Adie, also known as Ms Tress, is a Professional Dominatrix and multi-disciplinary artist based out of California. With a background in the performing arts, she held a career in dance for 10 years before attending the San Francisco Art Institute. From there, she delved into the nightlife scene, exploring the art of drag by performing and hosting events throughout the Bay Area.
In 2021, she introduced her kinky techniques from Domination into her art practice by creating abstract paintings using a type of whip called a flogger. The physical act of flinging paint using floggers offers a cathartic expression which creates beautiful sweeping gestures of colors and textures. The process of making each piece is an experiment that entails both planning and precision along with the freedom of chance and in turn, each painting is an original, unique embodiment of what it looks like to give, receive, and create.
Her work has been represented in businesses and galleries throughout California. Most notable include, Art Saves Lives Gallery, Wicked Grounds, and Queer Arts Featured in San Francisco, E Street Gallery in Sacramento, and Exhibit A Gallery in Los Angeles. In 2022, her work was also featured at the music festival, Aftershock, in collaboration with the organization Punk Rock & Paintbrushes. In March 2024, she was selected by Artelier Artist in Residence to participate in a two week artist residency in France, where she not only made invaluable connections but created a complete series of new works in the mediums of painting and photography.
Through the years, she’s enjoyed the act of documenting the creative process by capturing it on film and even taking it to the stage by doing live performances. Here, audiences a invited to witness the behind the scenes process, observing technique, choice, and physicality that goes into making a one of a kind painting. There is no expectation that the viewer knows or understands anything about her work as a Dominatrix or flogging in order
to appreciate the art. However, it is her desire that the art be subjective and inspiring so that the abstractions can emanate different ideas and emotions to all who look upon it.
