We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ingrid Yuzly Mathurin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ingrid Yuzly below.
Ingrid Yuzly , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.
I recently got hired to do a mural in St. Croix Virgin Islands, probably one of the best mural painting experiences I had working with Clean Sweep Frederickson. The best part for me doing murals is having the opportunity to connect with the community and community paint days are the best. Painting is a great stress reliever and your able to inspire everyone around you while having a positive fun atmosphere. During my time in St. Croix I got a chance to connect with 7 Highschool students who helped me paint and these kids never picked up a brush and did so well painting. That time with them was priceless and why I love creating so much.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m a Haitian-American artist, that’s infused my life with meaning with each hardship I had to face. My first-hand tangencies with abuse, teenage pregnancy, family mental illness and immigration served to shape me into a complex, multifaceted person whose art evokes the depths of the human experience.
My work is born at the juncture of my interests in African spirituality, female empowerment, social justice and mental health. I was born in New York and raised in Florida. My work delves into a vast array of behind-the-scenes investigations of what it means to be a black American, a woman and a scholar in different social circles across the country. I’ve always been drawn to what lies behind appearances – and my portraiture work uncovers the beauty of people of color, the value of hardships and the potentiality of our shared experiences.
I began exploring drawing and graffiti during my youth, and acquired diverse skills with time. Today, my work harmoniously combine oil painting, graffiti art, drawing and film photography. I aim to take negative experiences and transform them into positive and joyful artworks.
My dedicated art practice led to, among others, an exhibition at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Museum of Art in South Africa and a art collaboration with Collin Kaepernick with his nonprofit Know Your Rights Camp.
Last Summer, I completed my first 4-month long artist in residency program in Brooklyn NY at the Carrie Able Gallery. Recently, I traveled to US Virgin Islands in St. Croix at the St. Croix Educational Complex to create a mural and have a community paint day. I’ve also worked with Senator Jon Ossoff and Branded Arts to create art
campaigns and murals to fight voter suppression and advocate for equal voting rights in Atlanta GA. My biggest mural to date is a 52-ft Mural commissioned by Adult Swim and my most recent commission was by NFL Films for former NBA legend Vince Carter’s ESPN show Vince’s Places.
My long-term goal as an artist is to be an art educator and to continue doing work that focuses on building community and creating work that uplifts and brings people together.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
During the pandemic so much changed. My job did cut backs and it drastically changed my lifestyle. During the time I was painting part time and doing very well. I was close to making my salary I made at my job as an artist.
Well with all the changes that took place it was then that I decided to do my work full time. I got started with Mural painting years ago but my work increased after doing a fun mural protest with one of my friends Occasionalsuperstar and Powerhaus Creative. During the time I lived in Atlanta and people started to notice my work more. What really took my career to the next step was having the opportunity to work with Living Walls Atl. Working with them for Adult Swim changed my life. I will never forget that experience and because of that opportunity I’m able to create large-scale murals at ease.
The biggest advice I can tell an artist is to always work at developing who you are and your work. It takes time but once you get it run with it and have a story behind your work. It’s definitely not necessary but story telling with art makes it more appealing especially when someone can relate to
The work you create or can inspire someone.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Definitely, so in 2016 is the first time I left my job and I actually went back in 2019 due to a relationship. Business was slow and I had just moved to Brooklyn New York and was dating someone in Atlanta GA and ended up moving to Atlanta which was completely new to me.
Being a mother of 2 and having to start my business from scratch is one reason why I decided to go back. I definitely wish I would have stayed in New York and I probably will never move for a relationship again lol.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yuzly.com
- Instagram: Yuzlymathurin_
Image Credits
Gaby Ojeda