Ya’Shalan “Yaya” Nelson (b. 1992) is a visual artist and storyteller from the Bay Area, California, currently based in Chicago.

Their work explores Black identities, generational wellness, societal structures, and immersive mysticism—drawing from personal narratives, human connection, and the strength of community.

Since relocating to Chicago in 2021, Yaya has worked as a producer on short-form video projects and, in 2023, founded Chicago Moon—a capsule series of live audio-visual sets spotlighting artist DJs performing in unique, ambient locations.

In addition to media work, Yaya has helped scale program technology at Share Our Spare, a nonprofit redistributing essential goods to children, reducing resource disparities and landfill waste across the city.

In 2024, they became the House Manager for the Chicago Underground Film Festival, where their passion for cooperative programming and independent cinema continues to grow.

Launching in 2025, Impact Media Production is Yaya’s new workshop series designed to equip changemakers with tools to document and share their creative impact using smartphones and cloud-based platforms.