Who is Yoni Mudra Art Gallery For? (and Can I Visit?)

Walking into our gallery is a unique sensory experience. You might first notice the rustic

smell of fresh coffee, the eclectic mix of comfy chairs and couches, or the hand-crafted

items for sale. Then, you see the art: the space is brightly lit, and there are bold,

unapologetic visuals of vulvas displayed everywhere.

For someone unfamiliar with our gallery, this can cause a moment of pause where you

find yourself wondering,

“Who is Yoni Mudra Art Gallery (YMAG) for, and is it OK for me to be here?”

It’s a common and fair question!

For curious newcomers, we’ve written this introduction to answer that question directly

and show you that anyone with an open mind can enjoy the gallery's divine feminine

theme, even if you don’t understand it at first.

Yoni Mudra Art Gallery Cafe Side

What is the Yoni Mudra Art Gallery?

The Yoni Mudra Art Gallery (or YMAG) is a yoni-centred art and community hub that

supports and celebrates mental and physical wellness through art, dance, meditation,

and somatic and spiritual healing.

Yoni, in Sanskrit, translates to vulva and sacred womb space. Yoni art celebrates the

female form while tackling ongoing stigma about female genitalia. While the artists and

community surrounding yoni art find the beauty in the female form, it can be shocking to

someone unfamiliar with the concept and community.

Our gallery features art and handcrafted pieces by local artists. YMAG also regularly

hosts in-house and community-led workshops, public lectures, and intimate

conversations; its mandate is celebration, advocacy, and public education. The gallery

and gift shop are completely dedicated to honouring yoni anatomy. \

The space is open to the public, Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Why Might Someone Think Yoni Mudra “Isn’t for Them?”

Female-centric spaces aren’t common, especially those that proudly share a part of the

body that is often deemed pornographic or even disgusting and shameful. As such, the

misconception may be that spaces celebrating the vagina (or yoni) are exclusively for

those who identify as cisgender women. In reality, while the space celebrates the vulva

and feminine divinity, anyone open to experiencing the art and what the space has to

offer is welcome.

To answer the question directly: the Yoni Mudra Art Gallery is for everybody. It is a

space for the curious, for art lovers, for community-seekers, and for anyone with an

open, respectful mind.

Our mission is to be inclusive. We understand that different groups may feel hesitant for

different reasons; so, let’s talk about it.

Is Yoni Mudra Art Gallery Queer and Trans Friendly?

Yes, absolutely. The gallery is a safe place for anyone who wants to enjoy art, yoga,

Reiki, a warm drink, and community. Queer and trans people are always welcome in spaces that celebrate divine femininity. After all, gender is a fluid concept that

constitutes a different experience for each individual person.

We understand that LGBTQ2S+ individuals may question whether they are welcome in

what they believe to be a gender-specific space, especially if they experience a sense

of fluidity or uncertainty with their own identity. Many transgender, non-binary, and

gender-diverse individuals experience discrimination in spaces that are (explicitly or

implicitly) gendered.

Yoni Mudra Art Gallery is committed to offering a safe space to enjoy art and

community.

Additionally, we recognize that some queer and trans individuals have nuanced views of

their own physical experiences. This can be jarring if you’re in the process of changing

your own outward self to match an identity that closely resembles how you feel.

While struggling with the bodily self, it may be intimidating to explore art that boldly

shows a variety of different physical shapes, sizes, colours, and more. However, we

assure you that YMAG is a secure place to simply learn about art and enjoy all of the

services we offer.

Does Yoni Mudra Art Gallery Welcome Cis-Men?

Yes! While the space is designed to celebrate the yoni, the divine feminine, sisterhood,

diversity, and grounded embodiment, that doesn’t mean cis-men aren't welcome.

When discussing the female body, men may feel empowered by the openness of the

Gallery or shy away from the subject, depending on their experience and perception.

However, Yoni Mudra Art Gallery provides a place to learn more about the artwork and

the divine feminine, while also offering self-healing and educational services. Oh, and

we have a cafe, too!

Think of it as exploring a museum filled with any other kind of artwork. Even if you didn’t

fully understand what you were seeing, you wouldn’t mock it or treat it disrespectfully.

Instead, you’d likely read the accompanying plaque or informational material to gain a

better understanding of its significance. At the very least, you’d quietly respect it and

move on to the next piece. That’s the expectation we have at YMAG.

Why Allyship from Cis-Men Matters

This expectation of respect is also an invitation to allyship.

The art in our gallery exists to challenge the harmful objectification of women’s bodies

that is often perpetuated by popular media and pornography. For many cisgender men,

their first (and perhaps only) exposure to the vulva outside of intimate partners is

through pornography. This media sets an unrealistic, narrow ideal of women’s genitals,

which contributes to a culture of objectification and commodification.

Research demonstrates that sexual objectification is a “common thread” that interlinks

different forms of sexual violence. While objectification and sexual violence can affect

men, women, and those outside of the gender binary, current reports show women are

disproportionately targeted.

The culture of objectification also leads many women to feel anxiety, embarrassment,

and shame about their own bodies. Many have gone down the path of even surgically

changing the look of their vulva to match the pornographic imagery to which society is

subjected.

The reason it’s important for men to lean into allyship is that it helps to break the cycle

of sexism and sexual violence. By unlearning objectification, men and future

generations of men can live harmoniously alongside women, steering away from

behaviours that both isolate and harm women.

Our gallery plays a part in this unlearning by offering a non-objectifying perspective by

mainly and explicitly presenting the vulva in a disembodied form, unconnected to the

rest of a torso, appreciated for its own sake.

How YMAG is Breaking the Cycle

YMAG shows yoni of all shapes, sizes, colours, and varieties to tackle the stigma

around the vulva and encourage women and vulva owners to love their physical form.

Our imagery is all about female empowerment and honouring the female form. It's a

place created by a passionate collective of artists, visionaries, and community builders

connected by their grounded commitment to healing, creativity, and connection.

By tackling the stigma around women’s bodies, YMAG systematically aims to tear down

harmful stereotypes around the yoni and female form.

Coming to Yoni Mudra Art Gallery isn't just about looking at and appreciating yoni art,

but also a place to meet like-minded people and have truly spiritual experiences. Even if

you don't "get yoni art", we still welcome you to come through our doors and open your heart and mind to our vision.

How You Can Participate: The Doors Are Open to You

How you choose to engage with the Yoni Mudra Art Gallery is up to your interests: if

you’re an art enthusiast, looking to join a yoga class or an art workshop, looking to

experience Reiki healing, or looking to buy an artisanal cup of coffee, our doors are

open to you. If you visit the YMAG website, you can see our full range of services and

learn more about the team behind the scenes. This brick-and-mortar art gallery was first

conceptualized by owner and operator Melissa Finn, along with a talented team of

artists, creators, and others. Pay a visit to the Yoni Mudra Art Gallery today!