Ayin Es · On the Mend

Opening Reception
November 16, 2024 | 6–10PM
On view through January 12, 2025

Special Programs
Artist Walk-through of Exhibition
Saturday, December 7, 2024 | 1–3PM

Multimedia Drawing Workshop with Artist
Sunday, January 5, 2025 | 1–3PM

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Compound YV is pleased to present Ayin Es' solo exhibition, On the Mend. This collection reflects Ayin's journey of healing from abuse, disability, top surgery, and mental illness while navigating their identity as transqueer. Many of their paintings feature Dan, a dog-like creature whose name is an anagram of a ‘Non-Descript Animal,’ and whose presence evokes comfort and companionship and variously coincides with upside-down rainbows, flowers, or sweets. Other works feature self-portraiture, shapes, or patchworks of garment patterns, referring to Ayin’s family’s patternmaking business in Los Angeles. In self-portraits, a heavy stitch across the chest is a post-transition timestamp and a symbol of the wound from which Ayin has worked to heal. Ayin says, “I wanted to demonstrate various concepts of ‘healing systems’ as I see them. Embarking upon this creative process served as an existential self-reflection, and in my own lighthearted way, it is my foray into reconciling my afflictions and a playful testament to remaining a survivor.”

A two-time recipient of ARC Grants from the Durfee Foundation, they also won a Pollock-Krasner Fellowship, the Wynn Newhouse Award, the Bruce Geller Memorial Award from the American Jewish University, and an Artist Achievement Award from the National Arts & Disability Center/UCLA. Widely collected, their works reside in many predominant collections and museums such as the Getty, Brooklyn Museum, and National Museum of Women in the Arts. 

About Compound YV

Founded in April 2018, Compound YV is an artist-run gallery in Yucca Valley, California, near Joshua Tree. Open to the public from fall to spring, it hosts four exhibitions per season alongside more experimental summer projects and outdoor programs. The gallery features artists working across various media and career stages. Through free and affordable programming—such as talks, workshops, performances, zine swaps, and the Art Personals podcast—Compound fosters conversations on culturally relevant, sociopolitical, and personal topics.

Gallery Hours: Friday–Sunday 12–5p and by appointment
Location: 55379 29 Palms Highway, Yucca Valley, CA 92284