Yana Sakellion, MFA

As an artist and a designer, I practice an idea-centric interdisciplinary approach to making and conceptual inquiry when crafting interactive stories and immersive experiences. My inspiration often arises from a personal migratory past, with particular interest in fragmentation, memory, belonging, and the hidden connections that link individual journeys to broader cultural narratives.

I blend technology and engagement, visual wonder and spatial design to create impactful narratives. My work invites audiences to become active participants in the process of discovery that transforms fleeting moments into shared and tangible forms. My research has increasingly focused on site-responsive storytelling, the relationship between physical and digital environments, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence within creative and design disciplines.

I hold an MFA in Digital+Media from the Rhode Island School of Design, and I am currently an Associate Professor of Graphic Design at American University in Washington, DC. My work has been exhibited, screened, and performed nationally and internationally. Recent highlights include presentations at the College Art Association conference in Chicago, IL, chairing a session for SECAC (formerly the Southeastern College Art Conference) in Winston-Salem, NC, and animation screenings at the International Society for Animation Studies Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.