Check Out Yael Lichaa’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yael Lichaa.

Hi Yael, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Story of RAZ Land: From Hidden Identity to Bold Creation
The “good times” in life are easy to appreciate, but I have learned that our hardest moments are the true seeds of manifestation. The struggle, when we hit our lowest points, is actually the raw, unexpressed energy that leads us toward spiritual growth and a clearer path for our dreams.
Growing up in Kiev, Ukraine, I lived a life of hidden identities. To protect us from anti-Semitism, my mother kept our Jewish heritage a secret; I only discovered the truth through a classmate’s question. During those years, I dreamed of a “one-stop” creative sanctuary where I could learn everything—from painting and sculpting to woodworking and filmmaking. Yet, I was also driven by an altruistic desire to save the world, leading me to study both medicine and the arts. For years, I battled between the two, until I realized that neither a medical degree nor a traditional art career alone could fulfill my purpose.
The turning point came when I immigrated to America in 1991 and eventually found the Kabbalah Centre. Through the study of Kabbalah, I found the universal tools I had been searching for. I spent 20 years using these spiritual principles to heal my own life, fix my relationships, and realize my true calling: helping others connect to their souls through creative expression.
In December 2018, that childhood dream manifested as RAZ Land (Robertson Art Zone) in Los Angeles. Today, we are more than just an art studio; we are a Cultural Art Center where we teach children and adults to transform their unexpressed and destructive energy into “weapons of mass construction”.
My approach is built on the belief that everyone is an artist. By combining technical art skills with the ancient wisdom of Kabbalah and our signature MATS (Making Art Through Storytelling) method, we help our students unlock their limited beliefs. We provide the guidance and the safe space they need to stop being passive spectators and finally become the bold Creators of their own lives.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been anything but a smooth road—it’s been a 40-year labor of love, grit, and spiritual endurance. My journey hasn’t just been about building a business; it has been about transforming my own “unexpressed energy” into a clear purpose.
The 40-Year Apprenticeship
Since the age of six in Kiev, Ukraine, my life has been an intensive study of diverse artistic languages. I spent decades mastering skills that required immense patience and technical precision—from drawing and painting to sculpting, wood and stone carving, ceramics, oil gilding, and even antique furniture restoration. It was never easy, but every skill was a building block for what would eventually become the RAZ Method.
Identity and the Search for Purpose
For a long time, the road was clouded by a struggle with my own identity. I wrestled with how I fit into the world and what my true purpose was, often feeling caught between my creative dreams and my desire to contribute something meaningful to society. This “identity void” was the raw material I eventually learned to transmute into the RAZ Land philosophy of moving from a spectator to a bold Creator.
The 2008 Roadblock and the First Failure
After immigrating to America and learning English, I reached a major milestone: earning my Master of Elementary Education in August 2008. However, I graduated right into the Great Recession. LAUSD implemented a total hiring freeze, leaving me with a degree but no job.
I refused to wait for permission to create. I opened a small art studio with almost no money, but I quickly realized I couldn’t do it all myself—not with two small children and insufficient funding. I had to close those doors after only three months. That failure wasn’t an end; it was a ten-year planning phase. From 2008 to 2018, I meticulously developed the curricula and programs that would eventually launch RAZ Land for good.
The Two Greatest Lessons
Looking back, there are two definitive lessons that define the road I’ve traveled:
The Puzzle Piece Principle: Every obstacle—the hiring freeze, the closed studio, the immigration struggles—was a piece of a long and difficult puzzle. They were mechanical necessities to lead me exactly where I am today.
The Creator’s Mandate: No one will make your dream come true for you. While we certainly need the help and support of others, the vision and the “hard labor” must start with you. You have to stop spectating and decide to build.
This road is what taught me how to help others build their own “weapons of mass construction.”

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At RAZ Land, we are much more than a traditional art studio; we are a Cultural Art Center designed to help children and adults transform their unexpressed and often destructive energy into meaningful art and storytelling.
What We Do & What We Specialize In:
We specialize in a multidisciplinary approach called RAZ MATS (Making Art Through Storytelling). While many studios focus on a single medium, we believe creativity is a universal language that requires a diverse toolkit. To support this, we have developed three main services: a 2-hour Adult Manifestation Workshop (with painting and mixed media), kids 10-week Mixed Media signature course, and 8-week Summer Cultural Art camp.

What We Are Known For
We are best known for our philosophy of “Weapons of Mass Construction”. We teach our students—whom we often call “Octo-Builders”—that the raw energy they feel inside isn’t something to be suppressed, but something to be channeled into creative output. We are recognized for integrating the ancient universal wisdom of Kabbalah into our curriculum to help students connect with their souls and find their purpose through their work.
What Sets Us Apart
Two core pillars distinguish RAZ Land from any other creative space:
The Breadth of Expression: We teach almost every form of art, including painting, sculpture, woodworking, writing, music, and cinema arts. This “one-stop” creative sanctuary allows students to manifest their visions across multiple dimensions.
Unconventional Methods: Our teaching approach is revolutionary. We strictly avoid “copying” existing works or pictures. Instead, we use The RAZ Method—a synergy of Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia philosophies—to teach technical skills that inspire students to create original art based solely on their own imagination.
What I Am Most Proud Of
I am most proud of the transformation we witness every day. Seeing a student walk through our doors as a “passive spectator”—unsure of their power or overwhelmed by their energy—and leave as a bold Creator is my greatest achievement. I am proud that we provide a safe, non-judgmental space where people can turn their vulnerabilities into strengths and build a more compassionate, connected, and inclusive world through their unique talents.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I have learned is that no one will build your dream for you; you must decide to stop being a passive spectator and become the bold Creator of your own life. While the support of others is vital, the ultimate responsibility to manifest a vision and do the “hard labor” rests with you.
Beyond that, I have learned two definitive truths that guide everything we do at RAZ Land:
The Puzzle Piece Principle: Every challenge—from the 2008 hiring freeze to the pain of closing my first studio—was a necessary piece of a larger puzzle. These weren’t just setbacks; they were the “mechanical necessities” required to lead me to my true purpose.
The Power of Transmutation: I’ve learned that “destructive” energy is not a flaw, but raw potential. When we use the tools of Kabbalah and creative art to unlock our limited beliefs, we can transform that untapped energy into “weapons of mass construction”.
Ultimately, the journey taught me that everyone has the capacity to be an artist. My job is simply to provide the techniques and the safe space for that connection to the soul to happen.

Pricing:

• 2-hour Adult Manifestation workshop: group of 10 to 40 people, From $1000 to $3600
• 1-hour, 10-week Mixed Media course for kids; for individual person: $450 per course
• 8-week Cultural Art Summer Camps, plus other camps: $675 per individual child per week, $140 per day

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.RAZland.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/razlandart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=raz%20land%20student%20art%20gallery
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yael-lichaa-4b932a11/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@razlandart
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/raz-land-art-los-angeles