Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabel Yellin.
Isabel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My mother had me in drawing lessons since the age of 5. She took me to the Guggenheim, not only because the hot dog guy on the corner was the best in town, but to expose me to art consistently. I always was a visual person, and making things has always been what makes me feel purposeful and brought me joy. After much encouragement while studying at Oberlin College, I knew I had to pursue it professionally. It’s the only thing that has ever felt right to me. After a year in New York working and applying to grad school, I moved to London to do my masters degree in Painting at the Royal College of Art and have been fortunate enough to continue my studio practice to this day.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think for any creative person – your life is a constant struggle to balance financial needs with your pursuits. Getting paid for your work is not a given. I have had a roller coaster of a time, sometimes being very comfortable and other times deep in the red. You have to accept that your art practice is your life, not your salary, and you make it work. All of the ups and downs honestly lead to better work in my opinion, because you have something at stake.
Please tell us more about your art.
I am a sculptor and painter. I am most well known for my soft sculptures – stuffed fabric-based works that oscillate between the alien and the figurative. My work mainly reflects on our psychological experiences manifested into physical objects – how can we see something totally foreign to ourselves and our experience, and yet feel like it relates to us intrinsically?
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think that is a tricky question. When it comes to art – I have been extremely lucky to have been able to study where I have and I think that lead me down a road of meeting people at the right time and in the right place. So I guess that is some luck, but mostly privilege, which I am eternally grateful for and think about often. The fact that I was able to pursue this passion as a career is privilege unto itself, so I do everything I can to make the most of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.isabelyellin.com
- Instagram: @isayell
Image Credit:
Portrait – Jared Zagha; Work images – Courtesy of Isabel Yellin studio
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