Illustrator Of Hopes And Dreams. Interview With Yasmina Keyrouz

by Alexandra Mansilla

Illustrator Of Hopes And Dreams. Interview With Yasmina Keyrouz

2 Mar 2025

Illustration: Yasmina Keyrouz (@aphroditeismysister)

Who is Yasmina Keyrouz, aka @aphroditeismysister? An illustrator and designer from Beirut, Yasmina is known for her vibrant, colourful illustrations — whether standalone pieces or seamlessly woven into real landscapes. Her inspiration comes from everywhere: fashion, street art, and the everyday moments that catch her eye. She turns whatever speaks to her into art.

A part of her illustrations is dedicated to the world’s harsh realities — destruction, crisis, and loss. She responds with a striking contrast: bold colours, black-and-white landscapes, and... eyes. They appear almost everywhere in her work. But why?

How did her artistic journey begin? And beyond art, how did anxiety enter her life — and how does she try to overcome it? Yasmina shares it all.

— Hey Yasmina! Let’s start with your background — you grew up in an artistic family, right?

— Yes, you are right! My dad is an architect and interior designer, but he is obsessed with everything related to art. My mom is a painter, graphic designer, and art teacher — she teaches both in schools and universities in Lebanon.

My mom’s work revolves around flowers — mostly poppies. It is her favourite flower, so you will find it in most of her paintings in different styles.

— What was your house like? And where do you live now?

— Right now, I am in Dubai.

Our house in Beirut is full of my mom’s paintings. But aside from that, it is actually quite minimal. It has a lot of soul, but it’s not the kind of chaotic, messy artist’s house you might imagine.

Each room has its own personality. My sister’s room reflects her — it is filled with makeup and beauty products. Mine is covered in my work, colours, and posters I love. My mom’s space is full of bookshelves and her paintings. Even my dad’s place in Dubai has paintings — some he has done for fun, others he has commissioned. Every space we have is a reflection of who we are.

Illustration: Yasmina Keyrouz (@aphroditeismysister)

— Were you always drawing as a child?

— Yes! I really loved art, but I didn’t know how to channel that love until I started learning illustration.

Honestly, I was always doing something creative — collages and little projects on my own. I took art classes when I was young, but I never really found the thing I was passionate about until I got into illustration.

— What did you draw as a kid?

— This is funny, but I used to draw so many spiders. Like, five-year-old me was obsessed with drawing spiders, and I have no explanation for it.

When I got older, I started drawing eyes. I still have my school textbooks covered in eye sketches. I have always been fascinated by them, and I still am.

Illustration: Yasmina Keyrouz (@aphroditeismysister)

— Why eyes?

— I love how they can be drawn in so many ways. But I am also obsessed with their symbolism — protection, energy, manifestation. That is why I have an eye tattoo.

In a lot of my illustrations, I include eyes, and sometimes I get backlash from religious or superstitious people who think it "attracts evil." But for me, it is the opposite — eyes ward off evil. It is a kind of protection spell. I love that meaning, and I love experimenting with different ways to draw them.

— So… why aphroditeismysister? What is the story behind your Instagram name?

— There is no real explanation! Before I started my illustration page, I had a secret Instagram account where I tested posts for my personal feed (yes, I used to care way too much about how my feed looked). I needed a random username that no one would recognise, so I just went with that.

Later, when I started posting my illustrations, I didn’t think it would turn into anything serious. It was just for me, my close friends, and my family — so I kept the name. And then it just stuck.

— Your works are very bright. Is there a meaning behind the colours you use?

— I just feel naturally drawn to bright colours; they are a big part of my identity as an artist. When I imagine things, I always see them in very bright, vibrant colours. Since my work is a reflection of my imagination, it makes sense for it to be just as bright as I see it in my mind.

That said, there are a few colours I use more often — like pinks, oranges, and blues. Of course, I add others here and there, but some colours I really struggle with. For example, I hate working with red. You will see it in my work, but I never quite know how to use it — it just feels difficult to work with.

— You have created a lot of illustrations dedicated to Lebanon…

— Oh yes! And a lot of them are based on childhood memories — both mine and shared cultural ones. There is something about that nostalgia that always inspires me.

Illustration: Yasmina Keyrouz (@aphroditeismysister)

— How would you describe Lebanon through your childhood eyes?

— It was a safe haven. But at the same time, I always thought about leaving. As a kid, I was constantly dreaming of moving abroad to start my life.

Now, at 25, I have been living outside of Lebanon for a year and a half. And suddenly, all I think about is when I will go back. When you are young, all you want to do is leave. When you are older, all you want is to return.

— You were in Beirut during the 2020 explosion, right?

— Yeah, I was at a friend’s house, on her balcony. We were on FaceTime with friends in different parts of Lebanon, and suddenly, one by one, their screens froze and went black.

We were confused — until we heard the explosion 30 seconds later. It was that massive.

At first, everyone thought it was Israel and that war had started. My mom called me, screaming, “Don’t move from where you are!” Five minutes later, she called back, "Leave now! Come home!" That is how little we understood what was happening.

A lot of people have those near-miss stories — leaving work early, skipping a class — small decisions that saved their lives.

Illustration: Yasmina Keyrouz (@aphroditeismysister)

— As we discussed before, your work is usually full of bright colours and energy. But sometimes you use dark colours, too. When?

— My pieces for Palestine are some of the darkest I have done. Sometimes, the subject matter doesn’t allow for bright, playful colours. When real-life events are too heavy, I adapt my work to reflect that.

Every time something happens in Lebanon, Palestine, or anywhere that affects my culture, I use my platform to talk about it through my art. It is my way of raising awareness and keeping these conversations alive.

Illustration: Yasmina Keyrouz (@aphroditeismysister)

— In the short interview with Hamsa, you mentioned that one of your least favourite feelings is anxiety. Obviously, no one likes it, but maybe you could share when you have experienced it and how it affects you.

— I would say I am pretty new to anxiety. When I was younger, sure, I would get nervous or scared sometimes — like any normal person — but I never really related to people who said they were anxious or going through an anxiety phase. I don’t know exactly when it started... perhaps around two years ago. I am not even sure what triggered it.

I think it began when I started realising I was growing up. That moment, you go, “Okay, I’m not in school anymore. I am not in my first year of university. My life is in my hands now. I don’t depend on my parents anymore.” It is not that being independent makes me anxious — I actually love being a grown-up — but with that comes a lot of responsibility.

Like anyone, I go through phases. I can be totally fine for a month, and then suddenly, for a week, I will feel super anxious for no clear reason. Sometimes, there is a specific trigger, but sometimes, it is just this overwhelming feeling — like I am overstimulated, overthinking everything, and my brain won’t slow down.

— How do you deal with anxiety? Do you have your own ways to cope with it?

— The first and most obvious way — I sleep. I sleep the anxiety off.

I also love watching movies and series. When I am not feeling great, I can binge-watch an entire season of my favourite show.

And then, I like to work — but only on personal projects. Just drawing with no agenda, no pressure — just creating.

by Alexandra Mansilla