Ecstasy

Introducing Artist Hannah Yata

Before we get into the thick of it, I can’t help but completely geek out over the fact that one of my favorite artists of our time, Hanna Yata, is gracing the pages of PEPPER Magazine within our inaugural volume set, year one. The first time I interviewed Hannah was back in 2017 as a human interest piece for my then blog, The Alchemist + the Butterfly (having a fan girl moment at the similarly in the title for her newest exhibit). Let’s begin by sharing a bit of her history —you probably recognize her art style as her paintings have been published in notable magazines and online sources including Juxtapoz, Hi•Fructose, Beautiful Bizarre, and HEY! Magazine.

From her Artist’s Statement : Hannah Yata, 33, is of half Japanese descent and was born and raised in a small Georgia town. It was from there that she developed a strong love for nature and animals, which she inherited from the area’s beautiful scenery and her mother.

During her early adulthood, Yata pursued studies in feminism, psychology, and art while in college. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Georgia in 2012, she relocated to New York to focus on her artwork and how to express her ideas through paintings. In 2015, she received a commission to create several art pieces for musician B.o.B, which are now featured on his albums "Psycadelik Thoughtz" and his "Elements" series.

Yata is returning to Allouche Gallery following her 2021 exhibition “daughters at the edge of the garden.” Alongside Allouche Gallery, Yata’s work has been showcased in several esteemed galleries across the United States, including but not limited to Copro Gallery, AFA Gallery, Corey Helford Gallery, Modern Eden Gallery, Arch Enemy Art, and several others.

And she’s in good hands. According to ARTSY, “Allouche Gallery was born after taking over the New York operations of a worldwide network of galleries. The gallery concentrates its highly curated program on artists whose work directly challenges preconceived notions of visual culture.” [see allouchegallery.com ]

Essentially, their mission is in line with ours. Of Yata’s work, Allouche says, “Hannah Yata focuses her work on celebrating the forces of life and varying cycles of death, decay and rebirth. Through painting female figures and psychedelic environments, Yata addresses the demonization of the feminine by patriarchal societies. Reaching back to nature-based religions originating in the Paleolithic Era, Yata's scenes intertwine animals, totems and archetypes steeped in archaic symbolism. The surreal, the grotesque, the romantic and nature interplay to create exhilarating and mind-bending dreamscapes.”

Due to the rigorous bustle of making ready for The Alchemy and The Ecstasy exhibit, which runs from March 23 to April 17, Hannah didn’t have time for a full Q&A yet. As it turns out, we’ll be saving her full interview when she comes back for a PEPPER takeover as one of our most iconic cover artists for Vol. 2, 2023. In the meantime, you can follow her on Instagram @hannahyata, view her website hannahyata.com and even catch the show at Allouche Gallery on 77 Mercer Street in New York, NY.

Artist Iris Van Zanten

Haarlem, the Netherlands

journalist K. Day Gomez