I was born in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, and I believe I came into this world already an artist. Guided by that truth, every part of my education and life journey has been devoted to honing my creative voice. My formative training at the Girls’ Traditional, Technical, and Vocational Middle/High School was followed by intensive arts studies in Istanbul, where I focused on technique, design, and accounting—because to me, even mathematics is a form of art. As a multidisciplinary visual teaching artist, I work across many mediums: clay, wax, and soft sculpture; the traditional Turkish art of Ebru (marbling); textile arts with fabric, yarn, and fiber; and photography that captures the poetry within people, nature, and form. My studio is always alive with music—I am a singer, dancer, and musician—and this energy flows into every piece I create. My deepest passion is lace making, a centuries-old Anatolian tradition passed down through generations. I create one-of-a-kind wearable art that modernizes this ancient craft while honoring the techniques I have perfected over many years. The result is a collection that celebrates cultural memory blended with contemporary expression. After moving to the United States, I studied business accounting in Philadelphia and graduated in 2008. In 2012, I founded Ylvia Asal Studio – Anatolian Cultures and Arts in Ventnor City, NJ, later relocating to The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University in Atlantic City. Between 2012 and today, my work has grown into a rich tapestry of exhibitions, teaching residencies, cultural programs, and community arts leadership. Some highlights include:
2014: Exhibited with ArtPride NJ for the NJ State League of Municipalities Conference and gifted a hand-embroidered 100th Anniversary flag. Designed Atlantic City storefront windows for the Main Street Program and yarn-bombed the Noyes Arts Garage. Taught lace making at SCOSA and fiber arts at the Noyes Arts Garage.
2015: Received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the State of New Jersey. The New Beginnings Award and Citation were issued by the New Jersey Senate. I hosted the screening of " Were Denge Min" / Come to my voice by Huseyin Karabey for the Garden State Film Festival.
2016: Presented at entrepreneurship conferences in Türkiye, sharing my journey through art and business.
2018: I was involved in many exciting new projects. I was honored to be chosen as an NJ Council for the Arts Folk and Traditional Artist Fellow and as one of 20 South Jersey artists to participate in the Creative Capital program. I was invited to participate in the Tastefully South Jersey exhibit at the Perkins Center for the Arts in Collingswood, NJ, where I demonstrated Anatolian Lace of “Oya” and food as part of this multicultural program.
2018: I relocated my art business to Downtown Haddonfield, NJ. This space serves as a marketplace for my handmade products as well as a workshop. In addition, visitors to her shop can see museum-like displays of antique embroidery and art of lacework, as well as have the opportunity to purchase the artwork of local artists.
2019: In April 2019, the Artist in Residence at Rutgers University presented and demonstrated Anatolian Lace of “Oya". Heritage Exhibitor for the 45th Annual New Jersey Folk Festival in New Brunswick, NJ. Lifelong Learning in the Arts program, instructing in a quilting project at the Rutgers University Center for the Arts in Camden, NJ. Participated in the “ Themes Across Cultures” exhibition at Wheaton Folk Art Center in Millville.
2020: Golden Festival presented and demonstrated the arts of Anatolian Needle Lace of ("Oya") and Paper marbling ("Ebru").
2021: I completed the Art Administrators' Essentials: Supporting Individual Artists digital classroom course through ArtsU, a program of Americans for the Arts. Exhibited in both the 47th Annual New Jersey Folk Festival and the Rockland Art Festival.
2022: Awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for work with Afghan refugees at Joint Base McGuire-Dix. Exhibited Women’s Work: Exploring Domestic Arts Through Gender at Camden FireWorks.
2023: Received the New Jersey Cultural Heritage Fellowship lifetime achievement award.
2024: Heritage Exhibitor at the Mercer County Cultural Festival. Exhibited and taught fiber arts to 300 girls at the NJ Women’s Expo.
2025: Exhibited in Artist as Activist at the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Annual Exhibition at Rowan University Art Gallery and Museum— This powerful exhibition features the work of twenty contemporary artists selected from over 300 submissions from across the state. Across every chapter of my life, I remain committed to sharing the transformative power of art. I am continually seeking new opportunities to exhibit, teach, collaborate, and build cultural bridges through my studio practice, my Anatolian heritage, and my dedication to community arts.
