We recently connected with Maria Garcia and have shared our conversation below.

Maria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

This is definitely something I think about often. But honestly, it has nothing to do with the happiness that being an artist brings me—I never doubt why I chose this path. In truth, art chose me. From a young age, everything I did was artistic in one way or another. The music my father played every single day, the arts and crafts classes my mom took us to, and the songs my brother and I started creating as teens—these experiences filled me with so much joy and light.

So, I never question the happiness art brings me. But I do think about a “regular job” because of my family. As immigrants in this country, building generational wealth is so difficult. Being the oldest sibling, I feel a deep responsibility to be the one who initiates that for us—the one who makes enough to fully care for my parents as they age.

Those are the moments when I ask myself: Did I make the best choice? Not for me, but for my family? Could I be doing more to support them, to give them what they need to simply survive?

When those thoughts creep in, I push them away with my belief in my art and in myself. I remind myself that my creativity is enough, that my art will provide for my family, and that it will all come together. I hold onto that faith—because it has to be true.

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?

Hi everyone! My name is Maria Garcia, but I go by Mari. I consider myself a creative in every sense of the word. I’m a professional dancer and a proud company member of CONTRA-TIEMPO Activist Dance Theater, where I not only perform but also contribute to the company’s communications and marketing team.

Beyond dance, my artistry spans many disciplines within the arts. I’m a singer-songwriter, releasing music as *MARI* on all platforms. I love directing, choreographing, filming, and styling—all of which allow me to express myself in unique and creative ways. My artistry doesn’t fit neatly into one category because creativity fuels everything I do. Style is one of my everyday outlets for self-expression; it allows me to show up as my brightest, most vibrant self. Through music and dance, I aim to move people emotionally and foster connections. As an artist, my mission is to create spaces that bring people together and build community—this, I believe, is my superpower.

My parents played a huge role in shaping me into the artist I am today. My father, a businessman with a deep love for music and visuals, unknowingly inspired me and my siblings through his passion. Our home was always filled with music, and his emotional connection to artistry—whether through TV shows like *America’s Got Talent* or just sharing a beautiful song—left a lasting impression on me. My mother, an incredible artist herself, instilled creativity in us from a young age. I’ll never forget the Saturday morning arts and crafts sessions at Michaels, where she joined us in creating and spending quality time.

Growing up in a household so rooted in art, it’s no surprise that I fell more and more in love with my creative side as I got older. It hasn’t always been an easy journey, but it’s been a beautiful one. My struggles and life experiences continue to shape and inspire my art. I long to create spaces where people can access the arts in ways I wish I could have as a child—spaces where people can gather, create, and form meaningful relationships through shared artistic experiences.

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

To me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to connect with people through all the different artistic outlets I explore. It can be something as simple as someone seeing me cross the street in one of my elaborate outfits and realizing they, too, have the freedom to express themselves however they want. Art, whether visual, auditory, or sensory, has the unique power to touch people in deeply personal and transformative ways, and I strive to create work that does just that.

My goal as an artist is to create pieces that move people—to inspire them to be better, to think deeper, and to love harder. Through my art, I aim to encourage social change and foster love in any space I inhabit. There’s nothing more fulfilling than witnessing these moments unfold in real time—seeing someone cry as they connect with a story I shared on stage, or watching people sing love songs to one another, moved by a song I created. These moments remind me why I do what I do. They fill my soul with emotion, joy, and purpose, and I hope to continue using my art to inspire freedom, connection, and love in others.

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

Even though I hate to admit it, my entire life has been a journey of building resilience. I arrived in the United States with my parents when I was just six years old, moving to the capital of the world—New York City. My father chased the American dream, not for himself but for my brother and me. Even though we came here with a work visa, it didn’t shield us from the challenges that came with building a life in a new country. It wasn’t until I was 13 that I truly started to understand how difficult it all was—the first time we lost our home.

No one tells you that chasing the American dream is exhausting. It’s one of the hardest things anyone can do, and I applaud my parents every single day for the dedication and hope they had for our future. From ages 13 to 18, we were constantly in and out of homes, hotels, and friends’ houses. During that time, I watched my parents do everything in their power to survive. I saw pain and struggle, but I also saw resilience, grit, and an unshakable push to keep going.

As the oldest sibling, I understood a lot more than I let on. I felt the weight of our circumstances but knew I had to be strong. I remember sneaking out to the hotel pool in the middle of the night just to cry—because that was the only time I could let myself feel without burdening my parents or showing my siblings that I was hurting too. I kept up a happy face and a positive attitude to try to ease some of the weight my parents carried. I did whatever I could to make my siblings’ lives a little easier, even if it was just taking them to the mall across the street to escape for a bit.

Those were some of the hardest times in my life, and I’ll admit I resented my parents for so long (as many teenagers do). Looking back, I wish I had been kinder to them during those moments, that I had shown more compassion and tried to be more helpful instead of letting my anger and frustration take over.

But those experiences shaped me. They taught me that the harder I work, the better life can be. They gave me grit, strength, and an unrelenting drive to pursue my dreams—not just for myself, but to support my parents and honor their sacrifices. Today, I am grateful for the struggles because they’ve given me a heart full of compassion, a vision for the future, and the determination to share love and kindness with the world.

It’s these moments that fuel my art. They remind me why I do what I do. I pour myself into my creativity not just for me, but for the people I hope to impact. My art is my way of creating connection, spreading hope, and showing others that resilience, love, and community can help us overcome anything.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingme_mari/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NP8ks7BvaCTRgeZsZxhFw