Alecia Dawn Young is a ceramic artist, scholar, and wellness practitioner who explores creative practice as a facet of community well-being.

The founder of creative wellness studio YOGAMOTIF, she blends visual arts with yoga and meditation for embodied making that supports mental health. Her artistic work is deeply rooted in Black cultural traditions, specifically drawing inspiration from hair care rituals, collectivism, and community archive. 

Alecia’s academic journey began at Alfred University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and New York state teaching certification in K-12 studio arts. She later pursued a Master of Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University equipping which prepared her for nonprofit leadership in her role as ​​Director of Artistic Initiatives at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture where she managed mainstage and education programs. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Applied Developmental Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education, where she explores the relationship between arts participation and well-being as a facet of human development.

Her work has been recognized with several honors, including the Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Award (2021), the 40 Under 40 Award from Pittsburgh Magazine (2018), the Mayor's Citizen Service Award (2012), and the K. LeRoy Irvis Equity and Justice Scholar Award (2022) from the University of Pittsburgh. Her work has been featured in several exhibitions, including at Brew House Arts, the Sweetwater Center for the Arts, and the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA). Additionally, her public art experience, such as the Rooted Momentum ceramic mural for Steel City Squash - an athletic and education center -  exemplify her commitment to visualization and community archive. 1,000 handmade and hand carved ceramic tiles extend over a 1,600 square foot composition where communal archive, nature, industry, and culture are a conceptual muse.

Alecia is most notably a teacher, as she has taught, curated, and facilitated countless workshops that aim to engage participants in creative processes that foster both individual and collective healing. In addition to her experience as a K-12 art teacher, she is a seasoned professional development leader and yoga teacher. She has served as a guest faculty member for Nurture & Nourish Yoga's Perinatal Yoga Teacher Training, curated the Meditation Garden Series at the Carnegie Museum of Art, and offers ongoing community yoga and meditation workshops.

Alecia dedicates her time to thriving ecosystems of community-based arts. An energetic thought partner, her career spans a commitment to community arts education and wellness, rooted in making, teaching, and researching in the visual arts.