Yolanda Galery

Emerging Artist Award (Puget Sound region)

This award supports the work of contemporary visual artists and craftspeople from the Puget Sound region who are at an early stage of their professional career. The BRAVA Award for Emerging Artist is focused on artists who have seen early recognition of their visual arts practice, are serious about their pursuit of a career in visual arts, and whose work is deemed promising by a jury.

Yolanda Galery is a contemporary painter based in Seattle, Washington, whose work explores themes of cultural identity, natural beauty, and self-acceptance through vibrant portraiture. Born in Denver and raised in Yakima, Washington, Galery showed early interest in the arts, drawing, writing, and making music throughout her childhood. Though she has long been creatively inclined, she began developing a focused painting practice in 2020, turning to color and portraiture as tools for self-expression and cultural affirmation.

Galery’s work is rooted in her African-American heritage and often centers Black women, natural hairstyles, and emotive expressions. Her bold use of color challenges societal beauty standards and uplifts representations of melanated people with strength, joy, and nuance. Her portraits are both deeply personal and socially resonant, offering a counter-narrative to mainstream depictions of Black identity.

Currently practicing full-time while balancing motherhood, Galery is in the early stages of her career and embraces her path as an emerging artist. She continues to refine her voice through acrylic and digital media, and is building her presence through local exhibitions, collaborations, and community-based projects. Her art is a celebration of resilience, grace, and the beauty of being unapologetically seen.

My art is a vibrant celebration of melanated people, capturing the beauty and diversity of their skin tones, culture, and stories. Through the rich and dynamic use of color, I aim to illuminate the strength, resilience, and grace that emanate from individuals of the African diaspora. My work strives to challenge societal norms and encourage a more inclusive world where the beauty of melanated individuals shines brightly and proudly.