Chanel Yvonne
Houston , Tx
Chanel Hollowell, also known as Art by Chanel Yvonne, is a Los Angeles native, and Houston-based artist.
Message
Chanel Hollowell is a self-taught artist whose work explores the intersection of trauma, healing, cultural memory, and resilience. Deeply inspired by diverse cultural expressions and the power of storytelling, her art serves as a non-verbal language of survival, transformation, and community connection.
As a U.S. veteran and Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), and passionate educator, Chanel draws from her lived experience to create works that speak to both individual and collective healing. Her background in mental health advocacy and her role as a passionate educator fuel her commitment to creating safe, creative spaces for children and community members to explore emotion, identity, and hope.
In 2024, Chanel debuted her work at The Art of Women Art Show (March) and the Black Girl Art Show (June), marking her emergence into the public art space with bold, emotionally charged pieces. She continues to engage with the art community through exhibitions and mentorship, most notably as a participant in the Project Row Houses Mentorship Program (Cohort 5) in 2026. There, she showcased "Echoes of Our Ancestors", a powerful mixed-media mask installation exploring the generational transmission of roles, trauma, and ancestral memory.
Through a fusion of abstract expressionism, mixed media techniques, and culturally grounded symbolism, Chanel creates pieces that invite reflection, conversation, and healing. Whether working on canvas or in the community, her art is a call to feel, to connect, and to reclaim one's narrative.
Statement
Art serves as my sanctuary, a realm where I liberate myself from the weight of generational trauma, cultural stigmas, and spiritual complexities. As an artist, my journey into creativity began as a personal quest for solace and healing.
My art practice is a contemplation of patterns and themes reflecting generational curses, culture, spirituality, and healing. Working primarily with acrylic on canvas and employing mixed media techniques such as collages, plaster, and charcoal. I create textures, depth, and vibrancy in my work. My exploration delves into the intersections of healing from trauma, manifested in abstract pieces that unravel the profound meanings behind addressing generational trauma within oneself and African American culture. I objectively observe and translate raw emotions into a body of work that challenges cultural narratives and stigmas related to healing from traumatic experiences.
My work stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a visual narrative of healing, self-discovery, and the boundless possibilities that unfold when one dares to pick up a brush and paint their own story. I aim to empower individuals who have experienced trauma by giving them the ability to freely interpret the messages behind my creative expression.