Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Art
Department
Art
First Reader/Committee Chair
Ragguette, Alison
Abstract
I create illustrative works that deal with criticism and appreciation in parallel ways; addressing facets of society, government, the self, and the influence of social media. My art ranges from digital illustration to narrative paintings, fluctuating to the flow and response of a piece. A blend of cheekiness and empowerment, I play around with uncomfortable subjects and heavy topics to bring attention to those that are misrepresented or overlooked. I am interested in the intersection of consumable media, its history and the disregarded context behind it all.
Rooted in my experience as a descendant of generational immigrant-refugees, my work reflects the contradictions of growing up Asian in the Western world, caught between cultural inheritance and cultural resistance. I explore how identity is shaped through misrepresentation, internalized expectations, and systemic power, as well as how these forces are reinforced or challenged through contemporary media. My approach to illustration and figure drawing emphasizes gesture and dynamic line by design, taking influences from calligraphical mark-making, as seen and found in East Asian paintings. This is in combination with my interest in consuming Asian-made media as a child, such as Japanese and Chinese animated shows, pulling comical expressions and action-based motions.
By reframing heavy topics through illustrative language, my work aims to prompt reflection, disrupt passive consumption, and create space for dialogue around visibility, appreciation, and belonging. I aim to invite critical reflections, especially in times where critiquing can be seen as “too overt”. My work seeks to make a space for dialogue in regards to visibility, appreciation, and belonging. It is important that my works encourage viewers to reconsider premade notions of narratives the system has provided them to easily consume.
Recommended Citation
Young, Michelle D., "Echoes of Becoming" (2026). Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. 2373.
https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/2373