CULTURE

ALEXANDER YULISH: LAYERS OF BEING

APR 7, 2025

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WORDS

by TATIJANA SHOAN

@tatijanashoan  

PHOTOS 

by ALEXANDER YULISH

Alexander Yulish is an artist whose work exemplifies a dynamic interplay of contrasts—order and chaos, serenity and violence, light and dark. Born and raised in New York City, Yulish’s upbringing was a synthesis of divergent worlds. His mother, Barbara Perlman, a painter of visceral, commanding works, and his father, a pioneering nuclear scientist, and step-father, a physicist and engineer, instilled in him a profound appreciation for emotional depth and structured logic. This unique heritage of art and science deeply informs his creative process.

Yulish’s canvases pulse with tension and contradiction, marked by layers of luminous pastels punctuated by bold, aggressive strokes of black and red. His paintings feel alive as if they might collapse or expand at any moment, embodying the unpredictable nature of human emotion. He describes his process as deliberate rather than meditative—an exploration of structure and intention tempered by raw feeling.

Having recently returned to New York after a brief stint in Los Angeles, Yulish is pushing the boundaries of his artistic vocabulary. His new series departs from his previous exuberance of color, embracing a more restrained palette and minimalist forms. These works carry the weight of personal upheaval, reflecting the isolation and transformation that have marked his journey.

For Yulish, painting is not catharsis but craftsmanship. He approaches his canvases with the rigor of a scientist, blending intuition with discipline. Each stroke is intentional, each color is calibrated. His goal is to create something honest—works that resonate with the complexity of being human.

Through his art, Alexander Yulish offers viewers a visceral experience, inviting them to confront the delicate balance of chaos and order that defines life. His work is a language of tension and beauty, constantly evolving yet profoundly rooted in authenticity.

Alexander Yulish, portrait by Tatijana Shoan