Yolanda Y.Liou

About

Yolanda Y. Liou is an award-winning visual artist, certified ADHD & AuDHD Coach, and a leading voice for radical representation. Originally from Taiwan and now based in the UK, Yolanda has built a world-class creative career through an alternative and self-directed path - proving that personal authenticity is the ultimate engine for professional excellence.

Following a 3rd Prize win at the National Portrait Gallery’s Taylor Wessing Prize, marking the first time in history the shortlist was entirely female, Yolanda’s work has been featured by the BBC, Vogue, and i-D. Her practice is dedicated to celebrating a broader spectrum of representation and empowering people to embrace their unique identities. This mission led her to photograph the landmark ‘Body Stories’ campaign for ITV’s Loose Women, where she appeared on the live show to discuss the importance of celebrating every body. She launched her photobook, ‘Thank You For Playing With Me’, at The Photographers’ Gallery, a project celebrating the beauty of diverse bodies.

As a late-diagnosed Autistic ADHDer, Yolanda’s creative work and her advocacy are deeply intertwined. Whether she is photographing high-profile campaigns or coaching neurodivergent creatives, her mission remains the same: helping individuals dismantle societal expectations to build sustainable lives. Yolanda understands the specific friction and brilliance of the ADHD and AuDHD brain. She provides audiences with a roadmap for harnessing divergent thinking and turning "uniqueness" into a competitive creative advantage.

Key Topics

1. The Power of the Outsider: Building a Creative Career from Scratch.

2. Creative Sustainability: Avoiding Burnout in a High-Pressure Industry.

3. Diagnosis as Freedom: My Journey with Late-Diagnosed AuDHD.

4. Unmasking the Creative Mind: Working With Your Brain, Not Against It.

5. The Lens of Inclusion: Challenging Beauty Standards.

6. "Controlled Accidents": Finding Beauty in Imperfection.

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