Me, in my home studio 12/8/25

Selling on the streets of Tucson, 2024

Me with beautiful community members and painters of Cehcum, Guatemala

My first Commercial Commission in Tucson, 2020

 

My name is Yellow Gray-Stempien.

I grew up a singer and did so until the age of 38 even though, I had many secret passions my entire life.  As a child, I was obsessed with international cultures, paintings, ceramics, textiles, animals, plants, architecture and science. I spent many of my formative school years slipping away from class to spend many hours in the library reading about and memmorizing pictures of such things. I wanted to experience and try so many things that were not available for me to physically explore in my suburban life that it almost drove me mad. I wanted most to be traveling the world while, being surrounded by animals while I painted and sculpted.

Although, I have traveled for many years around the United States, I have only traveled out of the country once.  I traveled solo to study the iconography inside the back-strap -loom weaving of the Ke'che Maya in Cehcum, Guatemala. While there, I taught painting classes to the community at night. 

 At age 38, I started College life in Chicago. I attended Truman City College and Northeastern Illinois University. I studied a plethora of subjects and really had no goal of graduating. I studied Sociology-cultural Anthropology, Art History, Ceramics, T.E.S.L and African History. I was involved in Student Government and was an English Tutor.   My favorite part of that time was meeting so many wonder people and picking the brains of some incredible professors. Their intelligence and passion fueled me.

I still dream of going to foreign places and painting what I might discover. I sometimes think about actually getting a degree in something. Until then, I live each day grateful for my family, my chosen family and for this beautiful planet.

My first Personal Commission, 2020

Two paintings of mine featured in the Permanent Collection at the Presques Isle’s Reed Art Gallery at The University of Main.  Courtesy of the late and amazing David Hitchcock and his family.

 

 

 

Two of my most special inspirations

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Yellow Gray’s Art Timeline

1987 - The Mattress Factory Art Exposition ( inside the Cabbagetown Mill). Installation: “The Power Of Mask Media”. Atlanta, G.A.

1993 - Art of the Century Show at The Rebecca Shipley Gallery.  “Exquisite Corpse”  - A Collaboration of 20 Artists. Atlanta, G.A.

1996 - First published photograph in the “Best of Atlanta” Creative Loafing. Title: “Glorious Foot Solider”  From the Gay and

            Lesbian Festival, 1996.

1989-2003 - Created images for local bands in Atlanta, G.A..  Included: posters, flyers, album covers, invitation cards and

            random merchandise.

2004-2008  - Attended Harry S. Truman College, DePaul Unv. and Northeastern  Illinois Unv. in Chicago, I.L.  
            Disciplines In: Sociocultural Anthropology, SocioLinguistics, African History, TESL, Ceramics and Art History.

2008 - Studied culture and iconography inside the back-strap-loom weaving in Checam, Guatemala and conducted painting

            classes for the community at night.

2020 - YeloMonki Works was formally established to sell paintings to the public.

2022 - Two of YeloMonki Works paintings were added to the Permanent collection of the Presques Isle’s Reed Art Gallery

            at The University of Main.  Titles: “A Conversation” and “ Tend To My Garden Now…Old White Man”.

2023 - CSIRI.org  (Computer Social Impact Research Institute) awarded YeloMonki Works as their featured Artist for the months of 

             January and February.

2024 - Featured four paintings in the Opening Show of The East Hive Community Gallery. Tucson, A.Z.

2025 - Volunteer Painting and Sculpture Teacher at The Armory Park Senior Center.  Tucson, A.Z.