Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maggie SanFilippo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Maggie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Maggie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Maggie and I am a visual artist based in Los Angeles. I grew up in Chicago and moved to California 14 years ago. It feels like I have lived multiple lifetimes in these years, first settling in Los Angeles and working in costuming for TV & film. From there a couple friends and I moved up to the high desert where we started an up-cycled furniture business. This evolved into a new found love of mid century modern and retro furniture flipping and restoring. From there I moved up to Sonoma County with my partner where we partook in flea markets like the one in Alameda while also managing my cousin’s salvaged furniture storefront in Healdsburg, California.
My then partner and I decided to move back to Los Angeles County so he could pursue his music and I could get back into TV & film, while also hustling our furniture business MARS Modern Vintage. Life took an unexpected (tragic) turn, but I will get into that later.
Once I found myself in Los Angeles again, I started to pursue my fine art more seriously after working at NBC’s The Voice. It seemed like my art, my history with design and costuming were all coming together. I was able to feature some of my artwork on Tshirts as well as prints for TV and film while also starting my apparel brand, Magz Marz.
I came upon a DIY creative community last year that has been life altering in the best way possible. I am surrounded by so many amazing creatives and am inspired daily. This has been a huge driving force in my trajectory as an artist. Being part of a community has been vital in my healing journey and I am so excited to share that with others this year.
To try and make a long story short, you can usually find me at the studio working on my current upcycled denim collection where I am fusing my history with furniture, art and grief while also laying the groundwork for my new mission with Magz Marz which involves mental health advocacy.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
In 2017 I tragically lost my partner, Ainsley, and his brother, Aidan to a drunk driver. Ainsley was a huge reason of why I started to do art again when I first met him (but that is a whole other story!). To say the years following were difficult is an understatement but I have always felt so lucky to be surrounded with the most amazing family, friends and ability to express and process my emotions through art! Without those things I don’t think I would be here which led me wanting to give back in a way to others that helped support me in my healing journey.
I am happy to say that I found more of my purpose this year when I underwent training to become a Peer Support Specialist (shoutout to my classmates!). This training really helped me become more vulnerable and share my story in the hope of inspiring others. It also showed me that my resilience had a foundation of support from others and from my art and that is why I want to share that with others who are struggling. In my darkest moments I couldn’t remember what it felt like to feel good and I am here to say, it really does get better!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.magzmarz.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggie_san/
- Other: https://magzmarzapparel.etsy.com https://www.instagram.com/npu_creativeallies/
Image Credits
I C YOU LA, Annabel Hannah Park