Kelly Yuste in 2023 at the Roman Colosseum, Italy
The stories behind why people create art have always fascinated undergraduate student Kelly Yuste. This curiosity led her to choose art history as her field of study. Yuste is of Chinese, Filipino and Canadian descent, spending the first 21 years of her life in the Philippines before moving to the lower-mainland with her family.
“Before my acceptance, I knew very little about the Okanagan Valley and the UBC Okanagan campus. Adjusting to this new environment took some time, but I have grown to love it here. Now, I am pursuing my studies in art history and embracing the opportunities and experiences here at UBCO.”
In the first art history classes Yuste took, she notes that ARTH 101 with Dr. Nathalie Hager introduced her to cultural hybridity and the interconnectedness of world civilizations through art. Upper-level courses with Dr. Antonella de Michelis, focusing on the Europe’s Renaissance and Baroque periods and its global art connections, challenged her to view art from a global perspective. Dr. Keshani’s ARTH 301 and ARTH 375 emphasized critical viewing and theoretical analysis, the latter deepening her understanding of South Asia’s Mughal Empire a its impact. These experiences highlighted the intricate cultural exchanges driving artistic innovation.
“The art history courses and instructors have profoundly shaped my understanding of this area, emphasizing the interconnectedness of global cultures and the ways in which art reflects these interactions.”
In addition to her studies, Yuste has taken part in other campus activities such as being part of the Asian Student Association (ASA), and completing a year of co-op education.
In her first year at UBC Okanagan, she joined the ASA initially working on the marketing for the club, and later becoming the club President. The club hosts numerous Asian-inspired events, such as the Lunar New Year Gala and House of Horrors, where they transform a campus building into a haunted house with themes rooted in Asian culture.
“Through the ASA, I found a sense of community and belonging, which was particularly important to me and other Asian students in the Okanagan. It allowed me to make friends and feel at home.”
For her year of co-op education, Yuste first worked as a Communications Assistant at the UBC Okanagan Student Union. Her responsibilities included creating engaging and informative content to promote the Student Union on social media, focusing primarily on producing short-form videos designed to inform students about the Student Union’s activities and important updates. For the summer of 2024, Yuste was able to find a role within the field of art history at the Fintry Estate as a Student Cataloguer, working to digitize and catalogue artifacts at the estate.
Yuste says that even at a young age, she always knew that art was something she was into, drawing, painting and taking pictures – a hobby that began for her when she was in the sixth grade, and she has worked over the years to developed her skills.
“I particularly enjoyed taking photos while traveling across Asia with my family and capturing school events. I became known among my friends and community as the person who always takes photos. These skills have greatly influenced how I curate my Instagram, which, although informal, is a platform where I express my art, thoughts, and feelings,” she says.
This experience in photography and social media curation has also enhanced her ability to frame and compose videos for her role at the Student Union and other personal projects.
Looking ahead, Yuste says she is open to any opportunities that align with her interests, noting that her ultimate goal would be to become a curator.
“Through one of Natalie Hager’s classes, ARTH 320, Art in Canada, I learned the significant role curators play in setting standards for what is represented in art and society,“ Yuste remembers. “In one assignment, I wrote a hypothetical acquisition report, which demonstrated how curatorial decisions can influence what is deemed important in the art world.”
She adds that this experience has inspired her to pursue a career where she can contribute to shaping cultural and artistic narratives.
“Overall, my involvement in the Asian Student Association and my passion for art history and photography have significantly shaped my university experience and aspirations. They have helped me develop a strong sense of community, enhance my artistic skills, and clarify my future career goals.”