About
Yari Mena is a mixed-media Mexican-American artist from Georgia. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Georgia State University. Yari taught art classes for teens at a summer camp at the Clarkston Community Center and created a survivor-centered healing arts curriculum for a women and children's shelter run by the Center for Pan Asian Community Services. She was an intern and a painting studio assistant at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Colorado. Recently, Yari was a Distinguished Fellow at the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences in Rabun Gap, Georgia.
Yari currently lives and works in the metro Atlanta area.
Artist Statement:
My work investigates how memories change to protect us, our relationships, and aid our survival, particularly within the context of the Mexican and Latinx diaspora. I alter photographs from my personal archive using materials that erode the ink, like heat, sandpaper, and solvents, as well as materials that create layers over the image, like paint, acrylic ink, and other photographs. These techniques illustrate memory as a tangible landscape, where the painted photograph replaces a romanticized memory and remains as a revised reminder of the moment. Through these methods, I explore how personal and collective memories are preserved, altered, and reimagined across and within generations
Yari currently lives and works in the metro Atlanta area.
Artist Statement:
My work investigates how memories change to protect us, our relationships, and aid our survival, particularly within the context of the Mexican and Latinx diaspora. I alter photographs from my personal archive using materials that erode the ink, like heat, sandpaper, and solvents, as well as materials that create layers over the image, like paint, acrylic ink, and other photographs. These techniques illustrate memory as a tangible landscape, where the painted photograph replaces a romanticized memory and remains as a revised reminder of the moment. Through these methods, I explore how personal and collective memories are preserved, altered, and reimagined across and within generations
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EDUCATION
2019- Georgia State University Welch School of Art & Design; Atlanta, GA
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio, Drawing and Painting
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023- Nostalgic Varnishes / Barnices Nostalgicos ; Hapeville Depot Museum ; Hapeville, GA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS & COLLABORATIONS
2024- For Now, Home Is ; The Supermarket by The Bakery ; Atlanta, GA ; Curated by Widha Gautam
- Hambidge Art Auction and Masquerade 2024; Uptown Atlanta ; Atlanta, GA
- Pressing Matters 2024 Annual Members Exhibition; Callanwolde Fine Arts Center ; Atlanta, GA
- & yet again & again ; The Dalton Gallery at Agness Scott College ; Decatur, GA ; Juror: Anna Carnes
2023- Arrivals; Hapeville Depot Museum; Hapeville, GA ; Curated by Samantha Singleton
- Honeysuckle Summer Atlanta Artist Market Powered by SOLA x The Bakery; CreateATL; Atlanta, GA
- Annual Art Auction 2023, Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO
- B(u)y Now (Anderson Ranch Staff Show), Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO
- Snail Mail Art Collaboration, International Track 2; Juror: Kim Tateo
- The Favorite Photograph You Took in 2022; Lenscratch; Virtual
2022- Holiday Open House; Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO
-Open Studio | Processing, Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO ; Co-curated with Hiroki Morinoue and Silma Berrada
- Magpie In the Morning, Anderson Ranch Arts Center ; Snowmass Village, CO
-20th Annual Off the Wall Pin Up Show + Sale, Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia; Atlanta, GA
2020- Mas Que An Expo, Team Target Virtual Exhibition on Artsteps , Curated by Leo Rodriguez
2019- Spring BFA Exhibition, Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design Galleries; Atlanta, GA
- Anthro-Obscene, Gallery 650; Atlanta, GA
- 21st Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Juror: Hope Cohn, Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design Galleries, Atlanta, GA
Awarded Honorable Mention by Selection of Juror
- Convergence, PULP Atlanta; Atlanta, GA , Curated by Sophia Sabsowitz
- EngageMINT '19, Hathaway Gallery; Atlanta, GA
2018- Spaces Within, The Defoor Center; Atlanta, GA , Curated by Jessica Helfretch
2017- Hispanic Heritage Exhibition, Student Center Gallery Lounge, Georgia State University. Atlanta, GA, Curated by Neftali Hernandez
- Salsita For You, Georgia State University; Atlanta, GA
- Emotional Wasteland, Temporary Site-Specific Installation, Georgia State University; Atlanta, GA (Collaboration with Courtney Escorza)
RESIDENCIES, HONORS, AND AWARDS
2024-Nexus Fund Artist Relief; Awarded by Atlanta Contemporary ; Atlanta, GA
2023- Hambidge Center Fall Residency; Distinguished Fellow; Rabun Gap, GA
2022- Professional Development Award; $5,000 Awarded by Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO
2019- Honorable Mention by Selection of Juror ; 21st Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Awarded by Juror: Hope Cohn ; Atlanta, GA
2014-Honorable Mention, Awarded by Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and SCAD ; Atlanta, GA
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2022-Winter Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking Studio Assistant at Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO
-Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking Summer Intern
2022-Studio Assistant for Leah Aegerter (Recognition Dinner 2022 Sculpture Commission) ; Snowmass Village, CO
-Studio Assistant for Thimble Fox Studio / Ali O'Neal (T-Shirt Screen Printing for Mountain Fair 2022); Carbondale, CO
2021- Artist for Brite Bodies; Atlanta, GA
2019- Summer Camp Art Teacher at the Clarkston Community Center; Clarkston, GA
2019-2017- Intern and Volunteer at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia ; Atlanta, GA
2019, 2017- Studio Assistant for Lauren Michelle Peterson; Atlanta, GA
2017- Intern at MINT Gallery; Atlanta, GA
WORKSHOPS
2024-Incorporating Personal Imagery into Painting ; Anderson Ranch Arts Center ; Snowmass Village, CO
2023-Embroidered Warming Cloths; Hapeville Depot Museum; Hapeville, GA
2023-De/Reconstructing Photographs and Memories; Hapeville Depot Museum; Hapeville, GA
2022- Drawing from Life for Teens at Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO (Substitute)
2019-STEAM+ Summer Camp Art Instructor (ages 11-17) ; Clarkston Community Center; Clarkston, GA
PUBLISHED WORKS AND PRESS
2024-Meet Yari Mena | Artist , Shoutout Atlanta, 24 July 2024.
2022- Meet Yari Mena- Canvas Rebel, 16 June 2022.
2019- Meet Yari Mena- VoyageATL, 8 May 2019.
2017 - Prevett, Alec (Editor-in-Chief), Underground Arts and Literary Journal Vol.VIII, Issue I, Fall 2017 p. 28-29
2014- Neely, Raven (Editor-in-Chief), Underground Arts and Literary Journal Vol. V, Issue I, Fall 2014, p. 29, p. 154
2019- Georgia State University Welch School of Art & Design; Atlanta, GA
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio, Drawing and Painting
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023- Nostalgic Varnishes / Barnices Nostalgicos ; Hapeville Depot Museum ; Hapeville, GA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS & COLLABORATIONS
2024- For Now, Home Is ; The Supermarket by The Bakery ; Atlanta, GA ; Curated by Widha Gautam
- Hambidge Art Auction and Masquerade 2024; Uptown Atlanta ; Atlanta, GA
- Pressing Matters 2024 Annual Members Exhibition; Callanwolde Fine Arts Center ; Atlanta, GA
- & yet again & again ; The Dalton Gallery at Agness Scott College ; Decatur, GA ; Juror: Anna Carnes
2023- Arrivals; Hapeville Depot Museum; Hapeville, GA ; Curated by Samantha Singleton
- Honeysuckle Summer Atlanta Artist Market Powered by SOLA x The Bakery; CreateATL; Atlanta, GA
- Annual Art Auction 2023, Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO
- B(u)y Now (Anderson Ranch Staff Show), Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO
- Snail Mail Art Collaboration, International Track 2; Juror: Kim Tateo
- The Favorite Photograph You Took in 2022; Lenscratch; Virtual
2022- Holiday Open House; Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO
-Open Studio | Processing, Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO ; Co-curated with Hiroki Morinoue and Silma Berrada
- Magpie In the Morning, Anderson Ranch Arts Center ; Snowmass Village, CO
-20th Annual Off the Wall Pin Up Show + Sale, Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia; Atlanta, GA
2020- Mas Que An Expo, Team Target Virtual Exhibition on Artsteps , Curated by Leo Rodriguez
2019- Spring BFA Exhibition, Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design Galleries; Atlanta, GA
- Anthro-Obscene, Gallery 650; Atlanta, GA
- 21st Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Juror: Hope Cohn, Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design Galleries, Atlanta, GA
Awarded Honorable Mention by Selection of Juror
- Convergence, PULP Atlanta; Atlanta, GA , Curated by Sophia Sabsowitz
- EngageMINT '19, Hathaway Gallery; Atlanta, GA
2018- Spaces Within, The Defoor Center; Atlanta, GA , Curated by Jessica Helfretch
2017- Hispanic Heritage Exhibition, Student Center Gallery Lounge, Georgia State University. Atlanta, GA, Curated by Neftali Hernandez
- Salsita For You, Georgia State University; Atlanta, GA
- Emotional Wasteland, Temporary Site-Specific Installation, Georgia State University; Atlanta, GA (Collaboration with Courtney Escorza)
RESIDENCIES, HONORS, AND AWARDS
2024-Nexus Fund Artist Relief; Awarded by Atlanta Contemporary ; Atlanta, GA
2023- Hambidge Center Fall Residency; Distinguished Fellow; Rabun Gap, GA
2022- Professional Development Award; $5,000 Awarded by Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO
2019- Honorable Mention by Selection of Juror ; 21st Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Awarded by Juror: Hope Cohn ; Atlanta, GA
2014-Honorable Mention, Awarded by Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and SCAD ; Atlanta, GA
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2022-Winter Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking Studio Assistant at Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO
-Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking Summer Intern
2022-Studio Assistant for Leah Aegerter (Recognition Dinner 2022 Sculpture Commission) ; Snowmass Village, CO
-Studio Assistant for Thimble Fox Studio / Ali O'Neal (T-Shirt Screen Printing for Mountain Fair 2022); Carbondale, CO
2021- Artist for Brite Bodies; Atlanta, GA
2019- Summer Camp Art Teacher at the Clarkston Community Center; Clarkston, GA
2019-2017- Intern and Volunteer at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia ; Atlanta, GA
2019, 2017- Studio Assistant for Lauren Michelle Peterson; Atlanta, GA
2017- Intern at MINT Gallery; Atlanta, GA
WORKSHOPS
2024-Incorporating Personal Imagery into Painting ; Anderson Ranch Arts Center ; Snowmass Village, CO
2023-Embroidered Warming Cloths; Hapeville Depot Museum; Hapeville, GA
2023-De/Reconstructing Photographs and Memories; Hapeville Depot Museum; Hapeville, GA
2022- Drawing from Life for Teens at Anderson Ranch Arts Center; Snowmass Village, CO (Substitute)
2019-STEAM+ Summer Camp Art Instructor (ages 11-17) ; Clarkston Community Center; Clarkston, GA
PUBLISHED WORKS AND PRESS
2024-Meet Yari Mena | Artist , Shoutout Atlanta, 24 July 2024.
2022- Meet Yari Mena- Canvas Rebel, 16 June 2022.
2019- Meet Yari Mena- VoyageATL, 8 May 2019.
2017 - Prevett, Alec (Editor-in-Chief), Underground Arts and Literary Journal Vol.VIII, Issue I, Fall 2017 p. 28-29
2014- Neely, Raven (Editor-in-Chief), Underground Arts and Literary Journal Vol. V, Issue I, Fall 2014, p. 29, p. 154
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