Where heritage meets modern design, and every piece is shaped by hand, heart, and story.
Founded by artist and designer Vyjayanthi Malladi (YJ), Art by YJ is an atelier dedicated to contemporary Batik—uniquely handmade scarves, jackets, wearable textiles, and art for the home. Each creation blends the warmth of traditional craftsmanship with a cosmopolitan, global design sensibility.
A studio for wearable art,
one-of-a-kind textiles;
crafted slowly, thoughtfully, beautifully.
For over 15 years, I have worked across India, Southeast Asia, and now the Bay Area, mastering how wax translates emotion and color captures memory.
My practice is rooted in slow, intentional handmade creations. I believe in the warmth of irregular lines, the poetry of crackled wax patterns, & the intimacy of pieces made one at a time.
Every textile I create carries precious vignettes of the places I’ve lived, the people who shaped me, the textures of my upbringing, and the landscapes that inspire me.
My work is more than something you see or wear
It is lived,
It is felt,
It is meant to become part of your journey, too.
Batik on Silk
From My Hands to Yours
Step into my studio for a moment.
Feel the flow of the Tjanting on the fabric, the cooling wax patterns, the bloom of color between the lines. This is how each piece begins — quietly, deliberately, and with a kind of stillness that feels like home to me.
Want to know more?
Follow my journey on Instagram and Substack.
The Batik KIT Color Mixing Guide
Color is my favorite storyteller.
This guide is a small offering from my practice to yours — a reference card I use when mixing silk dyes, layering hues, and creating the translucent washes that give Batik its magic. You’re welcome to download it, use it in your own experiments, and let it guide your explorations in color.
Join Me on This Journey
Walk with me — into the studio, behind the scene, into my mind where ideas form and art manifests.
I share not just the art, but also the many inspirations, experiences, trials and triumphs of my creative process.
Delve into my stories and the meandering, intentional notes from my life as an artist.