BIMA BRAVA Award 2025 - Yolanda Galery

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) is thrilled to announce the second class of BRAVA Award recipients: Sarah Bryant, Dan Friday, Yolanda Galery, and Nikki McClure.

BRAVA—BIMA Recognizes Achievement in the Visual Arts—honors contemporary artists, craftspeople, and makers whose work reflects exceptional artistic vision, technical skill, and meaningful contributions to their field.

This year’s honorees represent four distinct areas: Artist’s Book, Indigenous and First Nations Art, Emerging Artist, and Children’s Book Illustration. Each recipient will receive an unrestricted $15,000 award in recognition of their creative excellence and impact.

Yolanda Galery is a Seattle-based contemporary painter whose vibrant portraits explore cultural identity, self-acceptance, and natural beauty. Rooted in her African-American heritage, her work celebrates Black women, natural hairstyles, and emotive expression. Galery began painting in 2020 and now practices full-time while balancing motherhood. Using acrylic and digital media, she challenges beauty standards and uplifts melanated people with joy and nuance. Her art is both personal and socially resonant, celebrating resilience, grace, and visibility.