Today we’d like to introduce you to Arianna Ytselle Arelis.
Hi Arianna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My journey with photography began in 2005. I was in 4th grade, and I remember finding any excuse to use my family’s digital camera. It was a small, white Canon, and it was the first camera I had ever shot with. That trusty little camera is what I took to my first photography class in middle school. It was led by 2 women photographers who shot only on black and white film, and I remember thinking how inspiring they were. They took us all around my hometown of Stockton, California, encouraging us to take photos of everyone and everything. They let us practice street photography without judgment and when our 4-week class ended, our work was displayed in a gallery. It was there that I sold my first piece to a man who lived in the UK. I still get that same feeling every time I sell a photo mine- overfilled with gratitude and joy. That middle school summer is the time I fell in love with photography.
It was a dream I knew I wanted to pursue, but I let society detour me from chasing, so I forgot about it until I moved to San Diego. This time, photography found me. It was 2016, and I had been living in San Diego for 2 years, and although I was happy living here, I found myself getting more and more homesick with each passing year. Homesickness is a strange feeling because I knew I didn’t want to move back to Stockton, so instead, I began gravitating towards areas where I felt most at home. Places like the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala (due to being raised Catholic), Barrio Logan (because of my Mexican/American upbringing), and cemeteries. (we would go every Sunday after church to visit my sister)
I wanted to capture that feeling of home in any way that I could, so I started to take photos in hopes that I was bringing that feeling back with me. At first it was on whichever iPhone I currently had, but before I knew it, my passion for photography resurfaced. I invested in a Canon Rebel T7i and that became my camera for years. Then, in 2020, my now boyfriend gifted me my first film camera for Christmas. I was determined to master film photography, and that became my primary method for taking photos on both 35mm and 120 film.
I’ve been taking pictures consistently for over 5 years now, and I still aim to capture that feeling of home. The photos I take revolve around my history and my culture and trying to preserve the importance of my Chicana identity. I want to ensure that our history will not be erased in America, and everything I do in my art is a direct reflection of my upbringing and all the sacrifices that my parents made to ensure I had the best possible life in this country. I owe it to them. To my grandma. To every Mexican immigrant that came here.
Our culture is loud, proud, and beautiful, and I will do everything I can to preserve it.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As I navigate my photography journey, I come across struggles daily. Majority of the obstacles that I have encountered have to do with internal narrative. I was in high school when I was reminded that being a photographer wouldn’t pay the bills, and I stopped actively taking photos. I let that dream die because I convinced myself that it wasn’t worth pursuing if it wasn’t going to make me money. I didn’t think about what fueled me or what I liked to do for my own enjoyment.
To this day, I still battle with imposter syndrome and remembering to treat my artistic self with kindness and compassion. I self-sabotage my art often, and it’s a daily reminder where I tell myself that my art is worthy and deserves to be shared with the world.
It doesn’t help that social media is constantly asking more from us- with the constant marketing updates and comparisons to other artists that it’s easy to lose yourself in all the chaos and forget why I make the art that I do.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am constantly challenging myself to think outside of the box and push my creative self. I enjoy taking film and digital photos, but to me- that is just half of it. When I present my work, I look for innovative ways to showcase my work and take everything into account with the process. Whether that’s reworking an old vintage frame or pressing flowers onto the matting or combining different media and utilizing magazine cutouts- I am always searching for inspiration in everything I do and trying to come up with ways that can push the boundaries. To me, printing a photo and putting it in a black frame is the minimum. I encourage myself to have fun and incorporate parts of my present self into my framing process. For example, for a show last year, I utilized old vinyl records and placed my photos in the center instead. Every piece I present is a direct representation of what I am currently going through. It’s what I believe that is what sets me apart from others.
My biggest ongoing project that I’m working on is “The Art Of Lowriding ” series that debuted in December of 2022. I rework antique art pieces with my photos, blending sought-after vintage art traits with low-rider imagery. I aim to showcase the beauty of lowrider culture often overlooked in society. Every piece is one of one and cannot be duplicated.
I recently began to curate and host my own art shows. Making art isn’t enough, and I want to create environments where I can hold space for other artists. I had my first show in November 2023 alongside my friend Denise and together we co-hosted and co-curated “Vivir Es Morir”. It was a wonderful night and an instant success filled with talented individuals. I’m currently in the process of curating my own art show- as well as in the process of doing a second show with Denise.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
My biggest advice to others is to make mistakes because if we aren’t making mistakes, then that means we aren’t stepping out of our comfort zone enough. I have found myself so frustrated while working on art pieces before. I have felt defeated and discouraged, but I learned from every piece I’ve created, and it always leads to bigger and better ideas- regardless if it might’ve not worked in my favor during that specific moment.
As artists, we have to keep learning, growing, and searching for inspiration in people and places. I hope I never reach a place in my life where I am comfortable in my art. I always want to keep finding ways to reinvent myself as a photographer and artist. There are truly no rules in art, and that’s the beauty of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ariannaytselle.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariannaytselle/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ariannaytselle
Image Credits
Mauricio Pastor
