Arts and creativity for fulfillment

Yahel Yan : Vibrant horizons

Between intimate memories and vibrant colors, Mexican-born artist Yahel Yan, now based in San Diego, explores painting, ceramics, and sculpture as languages of joy and remembrance. In her interview with Musarthis, she reveals a living art where abstraction and realism intertwine in radiant energy.

INTERVIEWS

Marlena Des

10/1/20255 min read

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For Yahel Yan, creating is a vital necessity, almost instinctive. Since childhood, the act of drawing or painting has imposed itself as an obvious gesture. In this interview, she reflects on her Mexican heritage, her life in San Diego, and her way of inhabiting different mediums to give form to emotions, memories, and inner landscapes.

1When you first approach the canvas, what calls you most — a color, an inner vibration, a hidden memory?

What calls me is the need to create!

If you put a pencil, brush, marker, or whatever in my hand, I will involuntarily approach the surface in front of me. I've been like this since I was a child.

Now, when it comes to my art collections, there is a little bit of everything. I need colors to express my feelings; hidden memories emerge from places I don't even know are there, and feelings I don't even acknowledge I'm feeling.

2. Mexico City seems to resonate in your work as a living memory. How does this city, with its rhythm, its light, and its shadows, still inhabit your gestures?

Mexico is a lively and colorful country filled with a variety of textures, patterns, and colors that are part of daily life. This rich artistic culture has influenced me deeply and shows in my work, whether I'm painting, creating etchings, or making ceramics.

Growing up in Mexico, I was surrounded by art from a young age. My family encouraged creativity, with each member bringing their own unique talents to the table. This environment allowed me to experience many artistic styles, from traditional folk art to modern designs, shaping how I see and respond to art.

My background and family influences continue to guide my artistic journey, inspiring me to create pieces that reflect my daily life and the vibrant artistic tradition of Mexico.

3. You move between abstraction and realism. How do you decide which visual language will carry the emotion that seeks to emerge?

The process and the experience of working with different mediums are so distinct that it would be very difficult to choose just one. Fortunately, I don't have to! I do have a set schedule for working with the various mediums, which makes each day different.exploring all of them! I maintain a structured schedule that allows me to dedicate specific days to different mediums, such as painting, sculpture, and digital art or printmaking. This approach not only keeps my creativity constantly flowing but also ensures that each day brings a new and enriching experience, allowing me to dive deeper into each form of expression.

4. Your paintings often unfold in layers, in superimpositions. What do these strata reveal — silent memories, fragments of life, transfigured instants?

The layers in my work represent layers of memory, feelings, sensations, and lyrics in my mind, moments from a trip or childhood memories. Each layer contains a thought, a sensation, or a moment in time, and together they create a conversation on the canvas. When I paint, I often allow images to emerge and sometimes cover them, similar to how we carry hidden memories that can resurface unexpectedly. These superimposed layers reveal fragments of life that are not linear but overlapping, much like our inner worlds. They also remind me that nothing is fixed; emotions, memories, and even identities are always shifting and transforming.

5. In Party People, My Secret Garden, or Hearts, one can sense very distinct tonalities. What does each of these series disclose about your inner world?

I often work in series or collections. One example is "Party People," a limited series that combines two distinct series into one: the spontaneous marks and shapes of "My Canvas is My Playground" paired with my signature motif of a chair, which frequently appears in my artwork. "Party People" is joyful, playful, and full of energy, with the chairs in this series feeling alive, as if they are dancing or celebrating.

In contrast, "My Secret Garden" is much more introspective. This series explores the intimate inner landscapes we carry and the personal spaces we create for ourselves that others may never see. It has a quieter, more contemplative tone. I was inspired to paint flowers in the face of impending loss, using the blossoms that grew from the seeds my father planted in my heart. Capturing these flowers on canvas allowed me to connect with something deeper while also bringing me peace and joy.

I created "Hearts" because I am a romantic and a believer in love. Additionally, the heart is one of the most common motifs in Mexican folk art. For Nahuatl speakers, the heart evokes actions as complex as reflecting, knowing, listening, looking, enlightening, and even grieving.

6. What do you wish the viewer to feel when standing before your work — joy, remembrance, or perhaps the opening of their own personal story?

My artistry is fueled by a deep passion for creating. Whether I'm painting a chair, a whimsical landscape, or an abstract composition, each collection reflects my optimistic nature and my purpose: to bring joy to the viewer. I strive for connection. My paintings may start from my own emotions and memories, but once they are out in the world, they also belong to the viewer. I want people to feel invited into the scene. Whether it evokes joy, nostalgia, or simply curiosity, my ideal is for it to open a door to their own story. If my work encourages someone to pause, reflect, and feel more connected to themselves or others, then I have fulfilled my role as an artist.

7. Toward which creative horizons do you feel most drawn today — new materials, new narratives, or new pictorial adventures?

I've always embraced curiosity and exploration in my artistry, moving fluidly between painting, ceramics, and sculpture to create work that is both visually striking and deeply meaningful. Chairs remain a central metaphor in my practice, while new projects like my birdhouse collection "Homing-Birds," which consisted of hand-built birdhouses fully furnished, and my latest series, "Be the Sunshine," reflect my willingness to experiment with materials, scale, and form. "Be the Sunshine" grew from paintings of suns and clouds that evolved into radiant, flower-like shapes; symbols of resilience and positivity that remind us of the light we can carry, even when skies grow heavy. Ultimately, my journey is defined by openness, guided by color, memory, and emotion into ever-expanding creative territo

From Party People to My Secret Garden, from her dancing chairs to her radiant suns, Yahel Yan’s art emerges as an exploration of emotions and layered memories. Each work is an invitation to enter an intimate story, while also opening the door to our own. Through colors and metaphors, she reminds us that creation remains a space of joy, transformation, and shared experience.