Story & Lesson Highlights with Jahvae York

Jahvae York shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Jahvae, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What battle are you avoiding?
Getting exposure and finding places to exhibit my art has been one of the biggest challenges for me. I know how important it is to put myself out there and connect with others in the art community, but sometimes it’s hard to come out of my shell. I tend to overthink how my work will be received or whether people will really understand what I’m trying to express. There’s a lot of pressure that comes with wanting to be seen, but also wanting to stay true to myself. Still, I’m learning that growth only happens when I push past that fear and take those opportunities to share what I can do. Every time I show my work, I gain a little more confidence and a clearer sense of purpose as an artist

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jahvae York, and I’m an artist based in Indiana. I’ve spent most of my career as a mixed media, digital artist, and photographer, but I’m now transitioning into the laser art community to create something tangible—something that bridges the gap between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary art. I believe many young artists struggle to create work with true permanence, and that’s what I want to change with my brand, Jahvae York. While the boundaries I’m exploring aren’t entirely new, the way I’m using my laser machine to express them is. Few artists have access to this kind of technology, which I hope will help set my work apart. Currently, I’m focused on engraving mirrors and wood—including cutting boards, frames, and structural pieces. I’m developing designs that suit a wide range of aesthetics, aiming to make my art affordable, accessible, and meaningful for everyone.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My mom. I come from a single-mother household, and my mom has always had 3 or 4 jobs. Before I was even able to get to school and touch pen to paper or get my first camera, the hustle was found in my mother. She mirrored that for me my entire life, and I think the work ethic that I have and that drive directly comes from a result of my mom. Just her telling me that I can do things, and be whatever it is I want, and to never give up. She was my constant, and without that, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
When I was a kid, I used to be able to pick up a pen, crayon, or marker, and immediately creativity would hit, and I would have limitless imagination. Now, the older and older I get, I turn into a refined beam, targeting towards something. I have a goal in mind, you could say, and there are so many things that have shaped me into the person I am today. I miss my free thinking; it’s not that I don’t have it, but the world is just so real now. I miss being young and the innocence that came with it.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That you have to have the best of the best to be successful. The best cameras, the best editing softwares, the lenses, and all the technologies to do something to the highest standard. It’s all a trap to get you to pay into a system of things you don’t need. I shot on a 100-dollar camera before I shot on a 1000-dollar camera. It’s like if you can’t start with nothing to make something, then why should I give you something to make something? The industry is looking for you to do that, and they will give out sticks and stones to build with, so if you can already do that, you’re one step ahead of the game.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If immortality were real, what would you build?
As a man, my soul may not be immortal, but my ideas and works that I create are. As an artist, I have to create things, or it’s my goal to create things that can have permanence, that can build a legacy. I am to create something and give it the power of immortality and life. It’s my job now, before I pass, to make sure I can get to that point in all ideas, which is why I’m shifting to a more real medium. I want things that can withstand the test of time and will say that I’ve been here. My work and name is and always will be immortal.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Jahvae York
Mya Prescod

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