Art and Ancestry: A DSF Scholar’s Journey Through Creativity and Community | Denver Scholarship Foundation

Proud Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) Alum Yazmin (Yazz) Atmore is a collage artist, wheat-paste muralist, and floral enthusiast who graduated from Denver East High School and Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver). There, she was able to design and develop her own unique major, Supporting High-Risk Youth through the Arts. For over 13 years, she has worked as an educator while fully embracing her role as an artist for the past four years. Her creative process is deeply rooted in her spiritual practice, honoring ancestors and those who came before her – a theme reflected in her Instagram handle, Chatty Ancestors.  

Yazmin’s creative journey is spontaneous and organic. She doesn’t predetermine her work’s colors, themes, or subjects. Instead, she allows the process to unfold, using her art as a bridge between the physical and divine worlds. Her ancestors guide the expression of each piece, a connection that she deeply cherishes and resonates in her work.  

Raised by an educated mother and encouraged to explore her horizons, she was determined and developed what to focus on during her independent degree at MSU Denver and realized her greatest passions were art, working with kids, and community programs – the things that grounded her. With that in mind, Yazmin felt called to dedicate her energy to serving and being a resource to others through the arts. At MSU Denver, she reconnected with her former DSF College Advisor, who had since transitioned to a role at the university. She strengthened the bond that began during her DSF journey and reinforced the supportive community that has guided her along the way. 

After graduation, she experienced a full circle moment when she returned to East High School as a mentor and teacher, later moving on to work with Colorado Uplift. The connections and support from DSF helped her guide students, much like DSF and her DSF College Advisor had helped her during her time at the DSF Future Center. This was the same place where she had filled out scholarship and college applications, completed the FAFSA, and received guidance on her post-secondary journey.   

As an educator, Yazz introduced her students to her style, allowing them to express themselves in their work using unconventional materials, including college techniques, which later helped her develop her style into the muralist she is today. Her use of unconventional materials is truly captivating, sparking curiosity and interest. Her technique started not thinking about art but letting those around her express themselves using different mediums, including paint, stencils, glue, and paper, and pasting them into a mural. She has worked with kids and students, community members, and even corporate partners across Colorado, always centering her work on community connection and involvement.  

“Ancestors Journey” by Yazz Atmore

One of Yazmin’s standout pieces, explicitly created for DSF, called Ancestors Journey, embodied her journey as a DSF Scholar. The mural on the chest represents East High School, where her path began, with a road leading to MSU Denver and the city of Denver symbolizing her growth. “My mentality around this piece was to display my journey as a DSF Scholar and symbolize the help from DSF to and through high school and college. This support allowed me to expand, grow, and continue to bloom”, Yazmin explains. 

Like DSF, her art explores the intersectionality of community, education, accessibility, art, and nature. She constantly balances her work by exploring new ways to create, connect, explore, and expand through learning and experimentation. Her pieces aim to create a mural embodying the healing essence of community ancestorial wisdom and the magic of nature and honoring the strength and power of art expression.