A liquid crystal element includes: a transparent substrate; and a liquid crystal layer including: a liquid crystal material; and a concavo-convex portion including periodic concaves and convexes, wherein the concavo-convex portion is aligned so that a longitudinal direction of liquid crystal molecules that are positioned on a side of the transparent substrate and on a concavo-convex surface that is an interface of the concavo-convex portion substantially becomes a vertical direction with respect to a concavo-convex surface on the side of the transparent substrate, or a longitudinal direction of liquid crystal molecules that are positioned on a side, in which a medium is disposed and which is opposite to the transparent substrate, and on the concavo-convex surface that is the interface of the concavo-convex portion substantially becomes the vertical direction with respect to a concavo-convex surface on the side, in which the medium is disposed, to form a diffraction grating.