We were lucky to catch up with Magda Leon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Magda , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission is to create art that honors the stories, resilience, and beauty of immigrant communities—especially those from Central America like my own. I come from a family of Guatemalan migrants, and I carry that history in everything I make. This mission is personal. It’s my own family’s journey, and it’s also bigger than me. It’s about using art as a tool for connection.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Magda Leon, a Guatemalan born artist, educator, and printmaker based in Providence, Rhode Island. I come from a family of immigrants, and that experience deeply shapes the work I do. I got into art as a way to process my own journey, leaving behind home, language, and loved ones, and to honor the beauty and complexity of migration. Over time, it became clear to me that art isn’t just something I make, it’s something I share, something I build with others.
My creative work blends traditional techniques like woodcut printmaking with storytelling, installation, and community engagement. I create everything from fine art prints and bilingual books to collaborative public art projects like giant kites inspired by Guatemalan barrilete traditions. I also offer workshops, talks, and art experiences that invite people, especially immigrants and first generation folks to feel seen, empowered, and part of something meaningful.
What sets my work apart is how personal and rooted it is. I’m not interested in making work that fits into a mold. I make art that’s messy, layered, and honest, like our lives. I work with natural materials like banana and maxán leaves, with language that slips between Spanish and English, and with symbols that carry ancestral meaning. I believe in honoring where we come from while imagining where we’re going.
I’m most proud of creating spaces where people feel represented, whether it’s a student in my printmaking class or a community member seeing their story reflected in a public artwork. I want people to know that this work is about more than me, it’s about us. It’s about reclaiming space, telling our stories, and creating something beautiful and powerful together.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One moment that really tested and revealed my resilience was when I moved to the U.S. from Guatemala at nine years old. I left behind my friends, my language, and everything that felt familiar. It was a deep uprooting, one I didn’t fully understand at the time, but it shaped how I see the world and how I make art.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey is driven by the need to honor the immigrant experience, especially the quiet, everyday stories that often go unseen. I’m constantly thinking about my family, about the people who came before me and made sacrifices so I could be here making art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.magdaleonarte.com
• Instagram: @magdaleonarte