Rugiyatou Ylva Jallow

(b. 1990, Stockholm, Sweden)

Rugiyatou Ylva Jallow is a Swedish-Gambian visual artist based in Los Angeles. Working primarily with acrylic, oil paint, and thread, her practice explores identity, dual heritage, and emotional memory through figurative painting. Her work often reflects the meeting between stillness and belonging—how cultural roots and modern movement shape our inner worlds.

Raised by her Gambian father and stepmother in Sweden, Jallow was deeply influenced by West African values and traditions while simultaneously immersed in Scandinavian culture. Her Swedish mother and grandmother, both early artistic influences, nurtured her creative curiosity and introduced her to painting as a language of expression. This layered upbringing continues to inform her exploration of Black subjectivity, dual heritage, and the nuanced space between cultures.

Through bold portraits and symbolic use of color, Jallow examines the visual language of connection and equality. Her use of thread acts as both metaphor and material, representing the interweaving of cultural narratives, histories, and identities. The recurring motif of floating hands signifies ancestral protection and feminine strength, while her vivid palette reflects an intimate connection to nature and a grounded sense of belonging on Earth.

Jallow’s practice invites viewers into an intimate reflection on what it means to belong—to a place, a lineage, and ultimately, to oneself.