YaMlettuceTomato
Bio
Yuska Lutfi Tuanakotta is a multidisciplinary creative with a Bachelor’s in Communications/Advertising and MFAs in Creative Writing (Fiction and Nonfiction).
His work spans visual design, writing, photography, and video, shaped by years of experience across different industries, formats, and audiences.
Timeline
2026
- Notable project: worked on the immersive game Reckoning with Redress as a graphics and sound editor. The game (and short film and website) is about the Japanese American Redress Project, which sought justice and reparations for those wrongfully incarcerated during World War II.
2025
- Notable project: worked on Black Fashion Canada, scope of work included light editing on the English version of profiles, and plugging in and light editing of the French stranslation
2024
- Started working on The Fashion and Race Database® (as a visual designer), among other projects
2023
- Was laid off from the position at Prima USA Travel
- Started focusing back on YamLettuceTomato as a freelancer
2021
- Resigned from the position at Mono B Clothing
- Worked on the Artis Solomon project
- Started working for Prima USA Travel as a marketing coordinator
2020
- Started working on Mono B Athleisure project
2019
- Became a naturalized US citizen
2017
- Was laid off from Accessories West Imports/Olivia Leigh Jewelry
- Started working at Mono B Clothing as a creative head in sales & marketing
2015
- Exhibited The Women on Our Skin, a photography essay of drag queens in Jakarta, Jogjakarta, and Bali (Indonesia), a part of Southbay LGBT Center’s (Torrance, CA) exhibition for Asian-Pacific Heritage Month
- Started working at Accessories West Imports/Olivia Leigh Jewelry as a photographer and graphic designer
2014
- Taught the Spring 2014 Memoir Writing class for senior citizens at Lafayette Parks & Rec (Moraga, CA)
- Earned second MFA degree in Creative Nonfiction
- Moved to Los Angeles
- Was selected as a Lambda Literary Fellow in Nonfiction
- Began volunteering at the Downtown LA’s Public Library’s Literacy Center to teach English writing skills to adults and immigrants
- Started freelancing as YamLettuceTomato, offering photography, design, and writing services
2013
- Earned MFA in Creative Fiction from Saint Mary’s College of California. Started a second MFA degree in Creative Nonfiction
- “The Marvelous Life of a Rice Hut Showgirl” (a short story written for an MFA course) received honorable mention in the 2013 San Miguel Writers Conference Writing Contest
2011
- Moved to the US (San Francisco Bay Area)
- Began training in FatChanceBellyDance© Style in San Francisco
- Enrolled in the Master’s of Fine Arts program in Creative Fiction from Saint Mary’s College of California
2009
- Left position at Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta and Shangri-La Residences, Jakarta to establish a dance career with DanceWave Center whilst pursuing a graduate degree
2008
- Promoted to communications executive at Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta and Shangri-La Residences, Jakarta
2005
- Started working at Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta as communications coordinator.
2004
- Graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications (Advertising) from Universitas Indonesia