Yana Payusova was born in Leningrad, USSR. She received an MFA in Interdisciplinary Media Arts Practices from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Payusova’s paintings and sculptures blend the styles and symbols of folk art, icons, graphic poster art, illustration, and comics, and reflect both her cultural heritage and her training in traditional Russian realist painting. She exhibits both nationally and internationally including recent venues at the Northern Clay Center Minneapolis) Howard Yezerski Gallery Boston) Tucson Museum of Art, Conduit Gallery Dallas) and the New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum Taiwan) Recently, Payusova was an Artist-in-Residence at the Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center in Denmark, as well as a Visiting Artist at the Anderson Ranch Art Center in Snowmass. She was recently commissioned to create an installation for the new Real Unreal, Meow Wolf’s fourth permanent exhibit in Grapevine, Texas. Payusova is an Assistant Professor of Practice and FYE Program Chair at the School of Art, University of Arizona in Tucson.