24/7 VALENCIA: Could you tell us something about your photography and travels?
ELIJAH EDWARDS: When I hit the road, you can bet half my backpack is packed with camera gear. For me, photography is a form of storytelling—one that goes beyond landscapes to capture the atmosphere, emotion, and meaning of a moment in time. I used to journal extensively, but as the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” And since I tend to take a thousand photos per trip… at this point, I’ve got whole books’ worth of stories in images.
While my feet carry me through each journey, it’s my camera that captures the soul of the places I encounter—their beauty, energy, and spirit. I’m a Washington, D.C. native–over the years, I’ve called Colorado, Massachusetts, New York City, the Netherlands and Spain home. I also lived with my brother, Roane (hilarious and exquisite chef and founder of @RoanesTable) in a frat house garage in California… Who knew that a mattress on a garage floor, two worn-out rugs, and a lonely potted plant in the corner could feel so cosy? The spiders were a nice addition too.
This past year, I lived in the Netherlands, immersed in its vibrant creative scene.
I’ve been fortunate to travel extensively—through North and South America, Europe, and Africa—with Asia next on the horizon. Each place has expanded my perspective, teaching me something new about culture, daily life, and the many paths to happiness.
Tell us something about your murals…
I started at home—quite literally. After my father caught me spray painting around the city at 12, my parents were faced with a choice: shut down my rebellious streak or channel it into something creative. They chose the latter and handed me a blank wall in my bedroom. Inspired by a mural I’d seen in Valencia, I painted my first piece: a towering skeleton in a basketball jersey and cap, holding a smoking bowl—quite the fitting addition to my teenage angst den. From that moment on, everything took off.
Since then, I founded YumYumDesigns, a creative design Agency– painting murals and all things design across the USA, Spain, and most recently, the Netherlands. My work fuses martial arts imagery with elements of traditional Chinese brush
painting—reimagined through a modern, street art-inspired lens. While thousands have seen my murals, one of the most meaningful moments came when I walked into a martial arts dojo and saw two kids mimicking the poses of the fighters I’d painted. That’s when it clicked—murals aren’t just visual statements; they’re a way to connect deeply with a place and its people.
What is your connection to Spain?
My grandmother–Consuelo Mercé– is from Castellón de la Plana, a town not far from Valencia. She was one of the first female medical doctors to graduate from the University of Valencia in 1952—a remarkable achievement for a woman at the time and more so given her family’s humble circumstances. To further her studies, she emigrated to the United States where she continued her journey as a doctor, founded three Montessori schools, and later became an artist. Thanks to her, I returned to Spain every summer as a child, reconnecting with my roots year after year. Now, as a young man, I’ve come full circle—studying, creating, and building my life here in the very region that shaped her story, and now, my own.
How do you find Valencia as a place to live?
Valencia is the city that transformed me—from a lost college kid in New York City into the man I am today. I arrived here full of mistakes, uncertainty, and failure. And yet, Valencia never turned its back on me. It smiled on me through it all, becoming the backdrop for some of my most profound lessons—about art, education, manhood, love, and life itself. This city has given me more than I could ever repay. Its beaches, the calming flow of the Turia park through its centre, and the constant pulse of creativity have brought me peace and purpose. The street art, the music, and the energy—especially during Fallas—have been nothing short of transformative. Watching artists build and then burn their masterpieces taught me a lesson: sometimes, letting go of your best work is what gives it the greatest power to move the world. The people here are kind, generous, and eager to help you grow—just maybe ‘aftersiesta’. Without Valencia, there is no Elijah.
Please tell us about your wider interests…
I’m the 2024 Spanish National Combat Sambo Champion, a scuba diver, an avid
(though imperfect) guitar player, an occasional dance-floor devotee, and a lover of all things creative. I’ve long been inspired by Miyamoto Musashi’s belief—one of Japan’s greatest samurai duelists—that by exploring various arts—be it painting, calligraphy, poetry, or strategy—you gain deeper insight into the essence of mastery of your core craft. The principles of rhythm, timing, flow, and perception carry over across disciplines. For Musashi, becoming a well-rounded individual wasn’t a distraction from the path of the sword—it was essential to walking it with excellence. I now embody that in my way of being and hope to gain deeper understanding of myself and my craft through exploration of many disciplines.
What are your current goals related to photography and art here in Valencia?
The same goals I’ve always had: to capture the raw spirit of the people, the place, and the passage of time in one of the world’s most remarkable cities through painting, photography, and all things design. I’m aiming to create 10 major murals this year, share my work alongside my grandparents’ traditional paintings in local cafés and restaurants, collaborate with some of the city’s top artists, and host two exhibitions—hopefully one at the CCCC. I want to share this timeless location—and the talent of its people—with the world, so they can continue to thrive, inspire others with their wisdom, and help shape a better future. Creative direction knows no borders, and through it, I hope to carry the spirit of Valencia far beyond its shores.
Interview by ‘24/7 Valencia’ team
Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’
All photos & murals copyright Elijah Edwards
More info: https://www.instagram.com/elijahedz
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahaee
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