Yigsy Magaly (b. 1998, San Salvador, El Salvador; raised in New Jersey) is a visual artist whose practice explores the relationship between line, color, and emotion. Beginning with photorealistic portraiture, she has since shifted toward a more minimal and expressive language, embracing flat colors and intricate linework to capture the weight of feeling.
Her ongoing series Blanxs removes facial expression and instead uses body language and posture to communicate presence. In this imagined world, emotions are expressed through gesture, rhythm, and color, inviting viewers to find recognition and calm in the work. Recently, Magaly has expanded her practice by exploring how lines themselves can stand alone as an emotional language, using color placement to amplify mood and create immersive surfaces.
Magaly’s paintings reflect a continual search for resonance, moments where emotion is both validated and transformed through visual form. A graduate of Mason Gross School of the Arts, her work has been exhibited in group shows across New Jersey and New York, and most recently featured in Newark Airport’s Terminal A.
CV
Education:
(2020) - Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, BFA
Solo Exhibitions:
2024: “Abstraction of the Human Mind”, Two-person exhibition collaboration with Angel Duran, The Herb + Milly Iris Gallery, South Orange, NJ
2019: “Closed & Exposed”, at Mason Gross Galleries - New Brunswick, NJ
2018: “Just a Thought”, at Mason Gross Galleries - New Brunswick, NJ
2017: “Warm but Cool Tones " , at Mason Gross Galleries - New Brunswick, NJ
2016: “Intro to Kat”, at Mason Gross Galleries - New Brunswick, NJ
Group Exhibitions:
2025 - Love Is The Remedy, at Buds & Blooms - Englewood, NJ
2024 - The Big Small Show 2024, The Terrarium Gallery & The Alcove Gallery at Drawing Rooms - Jersey City, NJ
2024 - NCJW/Essex Gala 2024 Art Show, Private Event - Livingston, NJ
2024 - Kaleidoscope Hispanica, at Pierro Gallery - South Orange, NJ
2024 - Red 7, at Perth Amboy Gallery - Perth Amboy, NJ
2024 - Vibrant Melodies, at Buds & Blooms - Englewood, NJ
2024 - Static Motion, at Art 150 Gallery - Jersey City, NJ
2024 - Diaspora, at Perth Amboy Gallery - Perth Amboy, NJ
2024 - Underground Armoire, at Sour Mouse LES - New York, NY
2023 - The WAE Open 2023 Heidi Gallery at JSDD - Livingston, NJ
2023 - Art Fair 14C Liberty State Park - Jersey City, NJ
2023 - Consumed by Creativity, Electrical Jungle - Jersey City, NJ
2023 - Behind City Walls Caelum Gallery - Chelsea, NY
2023 - Unfamiliar Faces, Showcase in collaboration with Angel Duran, OneRiver Art School - Clark, NJ
2023 - High Thoughts The Green Room - Englewood, NJ
2023 - The Bititis, Carter Fine Art Services - Montclair, NJ
2023 - Love Hurts, at UGLYSTUDIO. - Leonia, NJ
2023 - Curtain Call, at Mason Gross Galleries - New Brunswick, NJ
2022 - UGLY STUDIO., at UGLYSTUDIO. - Leonia, NJ
2022 - A Breathe of Fresh Air, at Buds & Blooms - Englewood, NJ
2021 - Unrequited!, at Caelum Gallery - Chelsea, NY
2021 - Layers, David Dupuy Gallery - Manhattan, NY
2021 - The Crowd, 7House Gallery - Brooklyn, NY
2020 - Windows of Understanding Projects of New Brunswick Community Arts Council - New Brunswick, NJ
2019 - Vision for the Future, at Mason Gross Galleries - New Brunswick, NJ
2019 - A Burden To Bare - Ridgewood, NY
2019 - “Untitled”, Showcase in collaboration with Angel Duran, at Mason Gross Galleries - New Brunswick, NJ
2019 - The Blacker The Berry Exhibition, Busch Student Center - Piscataway, NJ
2019 - Up In The Clouds at GSAH - New Brunswick, NJ
2018 - Onwards and Upwards, at Mason Gross Galleries - New Brunswick
2017 - Between Either & Or at Mason Gross - New Brunswick, NJ
2016 - William Paterson Art Show at William Paterson Gallery - Wayne, NJ
Exhibitions Curated:
2019 - Vision for the Future at Mason Gross Galleries, New Brunswick
2019 - Up In The Clouds at GSAH, New Brunswick, NJ
Recognition/Awards:
2019 - Scarlet Promise Grant, at Rutgers University
2019 - Distinguished Scholar Award, at Rutgers University
2019 - Ruth Crocket Art, at Rutgers University
2018 - Ruth Crocket Art, at Rutgers University
2016 - Best Painting Award, at William Paterson University
Select Publications
https://canvasrebel.com/?post_types=&s=yigsymagaly
https://montclairlocal.news/venue/sopac/
https://www.sopacnow.org/events/abstraction-of-the-human-mind/
https://jcitytimes.com/static-motion-at-gallery-14c/
https://www.bokeh.show/yigsy-magaly
