American Artist Contemporary Art

I aspire to create a space of imagination through acrylic paint, cloth, and periodicals using color, shapes, and texture by creating and sharing my artistic expression with the viewer. 

The use of mediums for background provides a fluid watercolor consistency on canvas or handmade papers, allowing a translucent or opaque presentation.

I firmly believe that art is the universal storyteller, capturing narratives that words cannot. "The Art of Life is The Life in Art."

Artist Bio:

A distinguished multicultural, multidimensional artist working in acrylic, pastel, and mixed media, I have been an active creator since the early 1980s, wholly dedicated to a life immersed in art. As a former gallery owner and curator, I have championed the careers of fellow artists while continuously evolving my own practice. My artistic journey is not merely a profession—it is an inextricable part of my being.

My earliest inspiration came from watching my younger brother sketch, sparking a lifelong passion. Though I have received some formal training, my artistic path has been largely self-directed, enriched through workshops with master artists and an unrelenting pursuit of creative exploration. My work is characterized by freeform expression, unbound by rigid structures, allowing my pieces to evolve organically.

In my current practice, my stylized figurative works celebrate the vibrancy of life, the strength of relationships, and the essence of sisterhood. I often abstract the female form, honoring its grace and resilience while embodying themes of professionalism and unity. My floral compositions pulse with energy, movement, and emotion, forging a deep connection between the viewer and the soul of each piece. Meanwhile, my abstract works serve as a conduit for introspection, using shape, color, and form to evoke raw emotion and personal reflection.

Art, to me, is an ongoing dialogue—a journey shared between creator and observer. When my work resonates with you, our artistic conversation reaches its fulfillment.

My art has been widely recognized, published, and collected on both national and international levels. I have been featured in numerous magazines and coffee table books alongside influential artists of color. My works have received prestigious awards and have been commissioned by renowned organizations, corporations, and private collectors.

Notable publications include:

• La Weekly Magazine
• Ebony Magazine
• Art 2000 Images Magazine
• The Journal of the National Medical Association (Cover)
• Change That Narrative (A collection of 75 of the most influential African American artists, 2023)
• Voyage LA Online Magazine (Multiple interviews)
• 100 Black Artists You Should Know (To be published by Overdue Recognition Art Gallery, 2025)
• Bold Journey Magazine

Major Exhibitions & Shows:

• Art Basel Miami/Spectrum Art Fair
• San Diego Art Show, Art Expo New York, Palm Springs, Las Vegas
• National Black Fine Art Show (NY), Harlem Fine Art Shows (NY, Chicago, Atlanta, DC)
• Beverly Hills Art Show, Pan African Film & Art Festival
• Museum Exhibitions: The Museum of African American Art (LA), The Lyceum Theater Museum (San Diego), Riverside Museum of Art, San Bernardino Museum of Art, Bank One Center and Museum (Wilmington, DE)

Commissioned By:

• National Office of the March of Dimes
• Governor and Maria Shriver’s Annual Women’s Conference
• Black Enterprise Magazine
• Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Weekend
• Pan African Film & Art Festival
• National Medical Association
• National chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho Sororities
• Liberty Bank New Orleans, City of Dallas

Television Features:

• The Real Housewives of Potomac
• Married to Medicine Los Angeles
• David Makes Man
• Good Morning Los Angeles (ABC News)

Notable Collectors:

• Vanessa Bell Calloway, Actor
• Billy Dee Williams, Actor & Artist
• Alden McDonald, Founder & CEO of Liberty Bank
• Barbara Thomas, Former CEO of National Black MBA Association
• John & Earl Graves Sr., Publishers of Black Enterprise Magazine
• Wilma Wooten, MD, Chief Health Director, San Diego
• Ed Gordon, TV Host & News Commentator
• Judge Greg Mathis, TV Host

Diana Shannon Young19510 Van Buren Blvd. Suite F3235 Riverside, CA 92508 (951) 536-2662 dsyfineart@gmail.comdianashannonyoungfineart.com dianashannonyoungabstractart.com