BIO

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Yana (StRukche) was born in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1979. When she was 13 years old, her family moved to Greece. Then, at the age of 16, she and her brother immigrated to America. 

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Having traveled extensively as a child, moving frequently, Yana’s connection with her imaginative world was the constant in her life. Her creative work provided solace and became a fundamental tool in the exploration and release of emotions, as well as a much important regular dose of laughter and silliness through tough times. Yana’s art served her as a means to heal and grow, and offers the same for her collectors.​ 

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A deep inner yearning prompted her to change academic direction in 2017 during her first year at Antioch University Seattle and go on to complete her BA in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Unschooling the Artist Within, followed by a Masters in Education with a double concentration in Adult Education and Artpreneurship as well as a one year study in the Mark Kang-O'Higgins Contemporary Art Atelier at Gage Academy of Art. 

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Currently, Yana lives in Seattle, WA. Here she spends her time creating and being a channel for the whimsical, quirky and amusing characters and creatures that decide to come through and show in her work. 

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Yana is forever grateful for her daughters and their constant flow of inspiration, love and silliness 

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