BIOGRAPHY
Ayala is a New York based contemporary visual artist whose multidisciplinary work explores spirituality, ancestry, and feminine power. Born into a lineage of creative women from an Andean border city, she draws deeply from her Indigenous Colombian-Ecuadorian roots and lived experience as a first-generation American.
Through what she calls Indigenous Surrealism, Ayala creates new visual narratives rooted in real stories of resistance and resilience. Her large-scale oil and airbrush portraits serve as spaces of sanctuary, dreamlike realms where her protagonists are safe, empowered, and free from the harmful narratives imposed by dominant culture.
Her work is characterized by vibrant color, mythic symbolism, and ethereal figuration centering themes of transcendence, healing, and the divine feminine. She holds a BFA from California College of the Arts, where she studied painting, animation, and graphic design.
Ayala has exhibited in solo and group shows, and her work has been recognized by global brands and cultural influencers. Through immersive, visually rich storytelling, she invites empowerment, spirituality and reconnection to ancestral wisdom—while continuing to explore color, narrative, and the sacred in everyday life.
my art story
Hey Soul Family, I’m Ayala!
I’m actually Yesenia Vanessa, Ayala is my last name, artist signature, and the heart of my brand. I'm first-generation American with Indigenous roots from Colombia and Ecuador. My parents were born in Ipiales, a small Andean city nestled high in the mountains right where the two countries meet. Life wasn’t easy for us, but I come from a family of strong women—five sisters, each of us touched by a creative spirit. Our father, a skilled woodcarver and carpenter, built much of our home with his own hands.
As a kid, I was constantly drawing. I’d get in trouble at school for being too wrapped up in my sketchbook. Other students would ask if I was an artist, but back then, I wasn’t sure what that even meant, I just knew that creating felt like home.
Everything changed when my sister helped me find a spot at a performing arts high school in the heart of the city. That moment shaped my life. I dove headfirst into painting, sculpture, and drawing by day, and worked airbrushing clothes at the mall by night. One incredible teacher believed in me and helped me apply to college. Thanks to that support, I earned a scholarship to California College of the Arts in San Francisco.
Living in a big city on my own was difficult. I was a full-time student, juggling jobs to support myself. Over time, I began to feel disconnected from the Fine Art world. It didn’t quite reflect who I was or where I came from. So, I shifted paths and explored animation and graphic design. That led me to an internship at Goodby Silverstein & Partners with Got Milk?, where I deepened my skills in motion graphics and editing. But the 9-to-5 life started to dim something in me. I missed my own voice, my own rhythm. I missed painting.
After reading The Power of Positive Thinking, I made a bold move to New York with just two suitcases and a curiosity about what I was capable of. I landed in the Bronx, open to exploring new expressions and pushing myself as an artist. Now, I’m deeply grateful to have found a community, a sense of purpose, and an entrepreneurial fire. My work is rooted in spirituality, ancestry, and femininity. Through my art, I hope to awaken a sense of empowerment in others. Thank you for being here. I’m so excited to keep growing and creating with you.