We recently connected with Maria Dominguez-Morales and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Maria thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My most meaningful projects have been those where I include the community in the creation of a mural. These include students, members of a given community and collaborations which include other artist. I feels like a full accomplishment where we all can share and feel proud of our outcomes.

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’m a visual artist and lifelong resident of New York City. My creations are influenced by personal, environmental, and cultural experiences. With a BFA from the School of Visual Arts here I’ve established my career as a muralist starting with an internship with from the CITYarts.org, a leading public arts organization. My trajectory in mural and public art making led to a commission by The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in NYC where I created 16 original paintings that were transposed into 16 permanent glass windows installation named “El –Views” in 2002. The work is displayed at the Chauncey Street station along the M/J line in Brooklyn. On the 23rd anniversary of this work in April of 2023, the originals paintings were acquired by the Museum of the City of New York for their permanent collection for future programming. I’ve exhibited locally, nationally, and internationally in numerous solos, and group shows. My work has been recognized with grant support from The National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council for the Arts, and the New York Foundation for the Arts. Currently, scholars from The Center of Puerto Rican studies at Hunter College in NYC are surveying my early murals, professional documents to be archived in their library.
As an Arts Educator throughout this trajectory, for ten years I directed the Education Department for El Museo del Barrio in NYC. In 2015 Arte Publico published “Sofi and the Magical Musical Mural” a children’s book for school age children where I illustrated modeled after one of own mural “El Pueblo Cantor” in the Bronx.
Most recently, In 2023 I was commissioned to paint “Sendero Verde” mural sized 46’ Long X 23’ high located on Park Avenue in the heart of East Harlem. It is a transformative development that brings together affordable housing, community services, and a dynamic public courtyard for residents to enjoy. The mural will engage the viewers with the deep history of the site, from pre-Manhatta to the present. It will allow the opportunity for story telling on a large scale. The ribbon cutting is set for the Spring May ’24.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

My most rewarding experience through my art form is that I’ve been able to reach a vast and diverse audience all including school age children, seniors, other adults, and peers in the visual arts field. Those of which I’ve developed long lasting relationships up to date..

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As a creative I able to think outside the normal constraints most jobs demand. It allows me to be a visionary and develop creative problem-solving skills I can then apply to my other every day matters.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mariadominguez.com
• Instagram: @mariadominguez991
• Facebook: mariadominguez.9484
• Linkedin: maria-Dominguez-17a51712/
• Twitter: @artedominguez

Image Credits
Head shot photo: Damali Miller other photos: Maria Dominguez