Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolina Yáñez
Hi Carolina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was always very interested in art. I remember being in elementary school wanting to be an art teacher, and learning about artists like Jackson Pollock and Shepard Fairey. When my parents would take my siblings and I on vacation, they’d buy us little disposable cameras and then get the prints made. It wasn’t until middle school that I got my first digital camera and enjoyed photography even more. I took the typical art class in high school, but really focused on painting. And I took photojournalism which led me on a more serious path to photography. In college, I signed up to take photography courses, thinking they’d be similar to photojournalism but were actually fine art courses. And I just ended up sticking to the fine art form of photography.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. It is a very difficult world to live in as an artist. From the public, to even inner art circles, there’s always a critic, and it can feel like never enough.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My artistic journey began with photography, and I really focused on that during COVID. Learning my own film development and going out to shoot practically every single day. But now, I’ve really grown as an artist and started working with other mediums to express my history, struggles, and beliefs. My artistic practice is really informed by my political circles. I’ve taken many roles working in progressive organizations and what I advocate for, appears in my work now: subjects like immigration, reproductive justice, feminism, and environmentalism.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
“Networking” is the most difficult process for me as an artist. I’m a very shy and socially anxious person, and I find it very intimidating to introduce myself to people, because why would they care about me or my art? The whole idea of networking feels very transactional too. What I enjoy is finding people with similar beliefs to me, and showing them my artwork. Someone who can relate to me or belongs to a community I’m from. Instead of climbing this ladder to try to get to the top, I enjoy making to express myself. And if someone can relate to that, that’s the best feeling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carolinayanez.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/cyanezzz
Image Credits
Carolina Yáñez
