*Please note we had a sound issue during our talk and apologize for the inconvenience.

In the fourth episode of The Gallery Hangover, gallerist Yessíca Torres sits down with painter Tara Yellen to explore her unconventional path into painting and the deeply personal nature of her work. Based in Tiburon, California, Tara creates abstract paintings that investigate color, texture, and movement through a process of layering and removal.

The conversation traces her career trajectory, from a background in writing and illustration to fully embracing painting in recent years. Tara reflects on how discovering her practice later in life has reshaped her perspective, turning what was once a peripheral outlet into a central and transformative force.

A key part of the discussion centers on her experience with aphantasia and how the absence of mental imagery informs her approach. Rather than painting from what she can see, Tara works from what she feels, translating sensation, memory, and emotion into compositions that evoke a sensory response beyond the visual.

Through this post opening conversation, Tara shares insight into her evolving practice, the role of intuition and experimentation, and how painting has become a way of understanding and expressing the intangible. Her work will also be on view in upcoming exhibitions at Dama Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles throughout the fall.

In this episode of The Gallery Hangover, gallerist Yessíca Torres sits down with photographer Edgar Takoyaki following his latest exhibition at Dama Gallery Ventura; Before The Fall.

Working exclusively in film, Edgar shares travel based photographs captured across Japan and Taiwan, using 35mm and 120 medium format to create images rooted in patience, precision, and lived experience.

Edgar also speaks on his expanding success abroad and the renewed interest in film among collectors, exploring how the tangible and deliberate nature of analog photography is finding new value in today’s market.

Looking ahead, he introduces new projects that reconnect him with an early collaborator, his homemade robot, signaling a return to experimentation within his work.

Through this post opening conversation, Edgar offers insight into the discipline of film photography, the importance of representation, and the ongoing balance between documentation and creative exploration.

In this episode of The Gallery Hangover, gallerist Yessíca Torres sits down with artist Sara Koenig following her exhibition at Dama Gallery Ventura; Before The Fall. Known for her collage based practice, Sara explores themes of identity, representation, and cultural influence through layered compositions that reflect both personal and collective narratives.

The conversation centers on her artistic process and the women who appear throughout her work, examining how visibility, heritage, and storytelling intersect. Drawing from her Colombian roots, Sara discusses the influence of Latin culture in shaping her visual language, as well as how her career as a doctor informs her perspective, discipline, and approach to art making.

Positioned as a pivotal moment in her career, Sara reflects on what she describes as a breakout year, sharing insight into her growth as an artist and what lies ahead. Through this post opening dialogue, she offers a thoughtful look at the balance between professional identity, creative expression, and the evolving trajectory of her work.

In the first episode of Gallery Hangover, host Yessíca Torres sits down with painter Malachi Arthur following his participation in Before the Fall at Dama Gallery. A 26 year old oil painter from Sacramento, Malachi brings a practice rooted in expressive color, layered imagery, and a deep commitment to social and political awareness.

The conversation centers on his works Whitey On the Moon and Whatdido?, unpacking themes of utility, disposability, and the tension between human presence and constructed systems. Drawing from historical and cultural references, Malachi explores the contrast between warmth and machinery, softness and structure, and the broader implications of labor, technology, and identity within his work.

Through this post opening reflection, Malachi offers insight into his artistic process, the intention behind his visual language, and how his work contributes to an ongoing dialogue about responsibility, awareness, and the role of the artist in confronting complex realities.