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YoYo Lander's new paintings explore what it means to be black and strong in vulnerable positions

Los Angeles artist YoYo Lander loves to explore unique colour palettes, bold contrasts and womanhood in her work. Her subjects are an arrangement of various brown hues, placed on backgrounds of both subtle and loud colour blocks.

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All images courtesy of the artist

All images courtesy of the artist

YoYo creates her interpretations using personal photographs and stories from indigenous women as her inspiration. "My figurative artwork sparks a conversation with my audience regarding joy, identity, sisterhood and community," YoYo tells Creative Boom.

Her latest series, Time Off, is a collection of eight large pieces made from watercolour paper and wood panel. The series explores black people who are perceived to be strong in vulnerable positions.

"Vulnerability is the essence of fear, shame and our struggle for worthiness. Yet it is also the birthplace of creativity, joy, love and belonging. To be vulnerable means to open yourself up completely, to stand in your nakedness and to lean into every imperfection. It is not easy, but necessary to elevate, grow, love, and evolve," says YoYo.

"But when do we get to be vulnerable? When do we get to ponder how we want to live our lives? When do we get to think about what matters most to us? When do we get to explore the heart of it all? Is it at night before bed when we are fully unmasked? Is it in our alone time?"

Discover more of YoYo Lander's work at www.yoyolander.com.

Figure painted in brown and purple hues wearing a yellow headwrap, seated on a bright red chair with hand to face in contemplative pose
Figure with brown skin wearing a white draped garment and crimson head wrap, rendered in watercolour with layered brown and pink tones against a grey background
Watercolour painting by YoYo Lander of a nude figure with brown skin wearing a yellow head wrap, seated on a red and white striped chair with hand raised to face
A figure seated and wrapped in a patterned brown and purple garment with head bowed, surrounded by blue and white fabric shapes on a pale background
Textured brown female figure seated on a red chair, adjusting a gold head wrap with one hand, wearing red and white geometric patterns across her body
A figure in a burgundy and pink top bends forward in a vulnerable pose against a pale background, with blue fabric pooled beneath them in YoYo Lander's watercolour painting
Watercolour painting of a Black woman in shades of brown and pink, seated against a textured background with white fabric draping
Abstract watercolour painting by YoYo Lander of a figure with dark skin lying down, rendered in layered brown, pink and purple tones against a pale background with gestural blue marks
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