Where joy, freedom, and community meet on the canvas.
To step into the world of Yvonne L. Rousseau is to step into a life fully lived through art.
Yvonne has been creating for as long as she can remember—literally.
“My love for creating art began at the age of three,” she says. “So… a lifetime.”
Originally from North Carolina, Yvonne moved to the Lowcountry in 1996, bringing with her not only formal training and decades of experience, but a deep-rooted belief that art is not something you fit into life—it is life.
Today, her work is best described as vibrant, spontaneous, and ever-changing, much like the artist herself.
Art That Lives and Breathes
Yvonne works primarily in acrylics and drawing, though her creative curiosity continues to expand into up-cycled bookmaking and wood assemblage—a natural evolution for an artist who has never been content to stay in one lane.
“My inspiration comes from my environment,” she explains, “with equal contributions from my spiritual and emotional encounters with life and living.”
Her creative process is deeply intuitive. She rarely sketches or plans in the traditional sense. Instead, the work unfolds organically—guided by instinct, rhythm, and a mental composition that’s already alive before the first mark is made.
“That first line is the commitment,” she says. “Most of the work has already happened mentally.”
Music, incense, herbal tea, and outdoor sounds often fill her studio. All senses are invited into the process. And if something feels unfinished?
“I’ll limit myself to four or five colors and play,” she says. “That usually reveals what’s missing.”
Joy, Play, and Room to Breathe
What Yvonne hopes viewers feel when they encounter her work is beautifully simple—and deeply needed.
“Amusement. Joy. Play,” she says. “And space left open for the viewer’s input and interpretation.”
Her art doesn’t dictate meaning. It invites it.
And when is a piece finished? Yvonne laughs.
“That question always brings a giggle,” she admits. “Because that hardly ever happens.”
Time and distance often change her relationship with a piece. What felt complete one day may reveal something new the next. It’s not indecision—it’s evolution.
Freedom as a Way of Life
When asked how she balances art with everyday life, Yvonne answers without hesitation:
“I have no balancing problem. I’m free.”
Having paid her dues in the workforce, she now wears only artist hats—and wears them joyfully.
“I’m not content if a day passes without some kind of artistic outlet,” she says.
Faith, culture, and personal story are inseparable from her work.
“They make up who I am,” she explains. “Every idea, mark, paintstroke, splatter—they’re all expressions of my total self.”
A Founder’s Heart for Summerville
Yvonne’s connection to Art on the Square Gallery runs deep.
She was one of the founding artists of Art Central, the first gallery in Summerville—helping nurture it for two decades into what she lovingly describes as a grown child.
“To see what has been accomplished is overwhelming,” she says. “I take great pride in who we were as artists determined to succeed in this community.”
She has watched the Summerville arts scene grow from nearly nonexistent to a true destination—brick-and-mortar galleries, public art, festivals, theater, and collaborative community efforts now thriving.
“We are officially an arts destination,” she says proudly.
For Collectors: Art You Fall in Love With
Yvonne hopes collectors choose her work not because it matches a sofa—but because it moves them.
“I want people to buy art because they love what’s being expressed,” she says, “because they feel an emotional connection.”
Her originals range from $100 to $3,000+, and she also offers prints, small works, and giftable pieces, making her art accessible to collectors at every stage.
She imagines her work living everywhere—
“In contemporary homes, traditional spaces, eclectic rooms… owned by people of any age, culture, or background—anyone who falls in love with it.”
Among the many collector stories she treasures, one favorite reflects a lifelong relationship with art—a young man who began collecting her work while single, then continued through marriage, children, and life’s milestones.
“Their home became a story told through the art they collected,” she says. “That means everything to me.”
A Legacy Still Unfolding
Artist. Teacher. Mentor. Founder.
Yvonne Rousseau’s work is not about trends—it’s about freedom, joy, and authenticity, and about passing that spirit on to others.
You can experience her vibrant, expressive work in person at Art on the Square Gallery, where her art stands as both a celebration of the present moment and a tribute to a life spent nurturing creativity in herself and in others.