In a world embracing diversity and empowerment, art often becomes a window to untold stories, reflecting resilience and the human spirit. For Yafa Negrete, a graphic designer and portrait artist, art is more than a craft—it’s a lifeline. Her journey, marked by immigration, personal challenges, and creative triumphs, is a testament to the enduring power of expression and connection.
Through her exhibit in A Flight of Empowerment, she invites audiences to explore narratives of struggle and triumph, particularly those of women whose voices often remain unheard. Her life, like her art, is a tapestry of resilience and transformation.
From Mexico to Pittsburgh: A Journey of Reinvention
Yafa’s story began in Mexico City, where she was born on November 10, 1981. From an early age, art provided her with solace and connection. “I found solace in drawing,” she recalls. “It was my way of making connections in a world where I often felt shy.” Encouraged by her father’s practical wisdom, she pursued a degree in Graphic Design, navigating a challenging environment for female artists in Mexico.
Her life took a transformative turn in 2016 when she moved to Pittsburgh after her husband was accepted into a PhD program at Carnegie Mellon University. The transition was anything but easy. Leaving behind her family, friends, and a beloved position at a renowned Mexican university, Yafa faced isolation and uncertainty. The following year, after delivering her second child, she experienced postpartum depression. “I didn’t trust myself. I thought I’d lost my talent and that my professional career was over,” she shares.
Determined to regain her footing, Yafa sought help from a Mexican female psychologist. “Mental therapy saved me,” she says. This pivotal decision marked the beginning of her journey back to herself. In 2021, she achieved a long-held dream, earning a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Graphic Design from Chatham University with the help of a scholarship from the Mexican government. “After 15 years of waiting to pursue a master’s degree, I finally did it,” she says with pride.
Art as Advocacy and Healing
In 2020, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, Yafa’s art found a powerful new purpose. Susanna Perelman, the owner of Art House NYC, invited her to participate in a project honoring healthcare workers who lost their lives fighting the virus. Yafa’s art was exhibited across iconic locations, including Manhattan, the National Mall in Washington D.C., and Miami, with some original pieces sent to families of the deceased. “It was an honor to be part of such a meaningful project,” she reflects. This experience reignited her confidence and strengthened her belief in art’s ability to heal and connect.
In 2022, Yafa accepted a position as a Graphic Designer at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. This role, alongside her master’s degree, the COVID project, and her therapy sessions, became pillars of her recovery and growth. “These experiences saved my life,” Yafa shares. “Now I know I am capable of doing many things that I didn’t know before.”
Liora: A Beacon of Inspiration
Central to Yafa’s narrative is her daughter, Liora, who inspires her art and outlook on life. Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Liora’s unique perspective has taught Yafa to embrace sensitivity and diversity. “She represents hope for the future,” Yafa shares, her pride and love evident. Liora’s presence has deepened Yafa's understanding of resilience, further fueling her passion for illuminating marginalized stories through art. Through her daughter, Yafa has learned to see the world with greater openness and compassion, qualities that infuse her work with profound depth and emotion.
Empowering Women Through Portraiture
Yafa’s work often celebrates the strength and resilience of women, including her own. Her exhibit in Songbird Artistry's A Flight of Empowerment, pays homage to extraordinary women in her life, such as her mother, Yemi Naftali, and Pittsburgh’s First Lady, Michelle Gainey. Their courage and advocacy have shaped her artistry and her vision.
A Walk on Sand
Yafa is sharing the profound story of her ancestors, whose journey from Syria in the early 1900s laid the foundation for her family’s resilience. Fleeing poverty and antisemitism, her great-grandparents sought refuge and opportunity in Mexico, where her great-grandmother Leah raised twelve children, including Yafa’s grandmother, Esther. After Leah's passing, 13-year-old Esther married young and took on the enormous responsibility of raising six children largely on her own, as her husband worked away from home.
Yafa’s mother, one of Esther’s children, embodied tireless effort and determination for a better life, despite often being misunderstood. This legacy of strength and perseverance deeply shaped Yafa’s understanding of womanhood. However, while her ancestors focused on survival, Yafa strives to shift the narrative, prioritizing mental health and working with a psychologist to ensure her children’s happiness and break cycles of trauma.
Like her great-grandparents who left Syria, Yafa also embarked on a journey for a better life, moving to the United States in 2016. She believes that women carry the strength, resilience, and stories of their grandmothers, and these qualities are central to her artwork.
The Power of Community and Connection
Yafa feels a deep sense of gratitude and purpose with the inclusion of her exhibit in Songbird Artistry's A Flight of Empowerment. “The exhibit is about freedom and strength,” she says. “It’s about soaring above challenges and taking charge of your own path.” Beyond showcasing her talent, Yafa hopes to ignite conversations around empowerment and resilience. Her art celebrates the human spirit, underscoring the importance of community, connection, and shared stories.
Yafa’s journey—from battling self-doubt to finding her voice through art—is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of creativity. Whether it’s through her daughter’s laughter, the stories of remarkable women, or her own courage in facing challenges, Yafa reminds us all that empowerment begins within. Through her art, she invites us to rise above adversity and embrace the power of our shared humanity, and to explore narratives of struggle and triumph, particularly those of women whose voices often remain unheard. Her life, like her art, is a tapestry of resilience and transformation.
Through her art, Yafa invites us all to take flight—to rise above life’s challenges and embrace the power within our shared humanity.
Yafa's art is available at Songbird Artistry with her Hanukkah card. There is a choice of the inside blank or saying "May the Light and Brightness of Each & Every Candle Bring You a Hanukkah Filled with Beauty and Brightness. Click here to purchase. A donation from the sale of each card will go to Chabad of Greenfield.
Yafa’s powerful portraits, along with the inspiring works of the other talented artists featured in A Flight of Empowerment, are on display at Songbird Artistry through the end of the year. This exhibit celebrates resilience, transformation, and the strength of women, offering a glimpse into the rich stories and emotional depth behind each piece.
You can view the artwork during our extended holiday shop hours:
Tuesday: 11 AM - 9 PM
Wednesday & Thursday: 11 AM - 6 PM
Friday & Saturday: 11 AM - 5 PM
Sunday, December 15: 12 AM - 5 PM
Visit us to experience these powerful works in person and find the perfect piece to inspire your own journey.
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