Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maggie Yee. 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. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I was 7 or 8 years old when I saw some drawings. I took one class at the Honolulu Museum of Art and was hooked. I was self-taught, and when I started to attend community college, everything I had taught myself fell into place, and I learned quickly. I tried every medium the college offered and settled on painting. Later assemblage intrigued me, so now I do both. I didn’t make a living on fine art, so I went into graphic design and theatrical scenic painting and continued with fine art in my free time. Art has always been my interest in life. I’ve had to persevere through personal challenges to keep that path open.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a visual storyteller reflecting on my personal experiences and environment. I engage with found objects as a narrator of boxes and find joy in items that are often overlooked. My work includes acrylics on canvas, assemblage/collage, and theatrical scenic art.

For 17 years, I worked as a graphic designer and self-published a limited edition titled “Folio 94, Conversation for Those Who Create” in Honolulu. This project featured a portable gallery style of hand-bound images, original 3-D designs, and poems from 1992 to 1998. Folio 94 brought together various artists under one publication, showcasing art exhibits and events.

My mission is to exhaust my art materials before I die while maintaining my sanity.

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

I’m a survivor of two relationships of domestic violence. I was unable to fulfill my dreams of going to art school. The second relationship posed a difficult decision: stay with my abuser or go out in the world, lose custody of my daughter, and take a chance. The chance I took proved extremely challenging. I read a lot of self-help books and grounded myself. I went to community college and excelled in my art. My day job was in graphic design, and I continued my fine art at night. I’m not a famous artist, but I have had exhibitions in Honolulu, Southern and Northern California, and Mail Art around the world. I have almost accomplished everything I dreamed of as a child, even though it was on a modest level. I’m mending my relationship with my son and I recently lost my daughter to cancer. However, the difficult time in my life is behind me, and I live with a loving partner.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’m from a broken home and was unsupervised when I was young, so encouragement was scarce in my life. Self-deprecating was a way of not owning my potential and achievements. I’ve learned to say a simple thank you when someone compliments me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.maggieyee.com
• Instagram: maggieyee.art

Image Credits

J. Sparenberg
B. Garvey
M. Yee