Against The Grain is a collection of paintings on wood, wherein Young explores new techniques, patterns, and a more natural palette with an array of different mediums, including graphite, ink, latex, wood stain, acrylic, spray paint, etc.

Fresh off the heels of a 4 ft. x 18 ft. commission for the Grand Hyatt SF in Union Square and a large mural in Miami FL painted during Art Basel, Young’s latest body of work ties together some familiar themes – alluring women, the urban landscape of San Francisco, and her continued study of nature -- against an added layer of minimal forms, patterns, and lines in neutral hues on wood.

Ursula Xanthe Young is a painter, illustrator, and graphic designer whose urban fairy tale images have become a trademark of street culture in San Francisco and beyond. She finds inspiration in the organic yet urban landscape of the city and its surroundings, and is also highly influenced by her travels and the variety of beings that she encounters along the way. She holds a degree from Parsons School of Design in Illustration.