We recently connected with Maria Stabio and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Maria, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Much of my life decisions have been “risky” by conventional standards. Going to art school – both for undergrad & grad, and moving to NYC, one of the most expensive and competitive cities in the US. Now, eleven years later, relocating to Schuylkill County, PA, one of the most underinvested communities in the country, where I opened a 5-room boutique hotel and artist residency in an almost non-existent tourism market or artistic center.
I think “risky” implies a choice or option that is uncertain, unknown, unsafe, unwise and complicated. Those aren’t the criteria I prioritize when making important decisions. I’d rather focus on what serves my life purpose & desire. My life hasn’t been easier, but it’s certainly been rich and full of unpredictable gifts and possibility.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’ve always been passionate about aesthetics & art. My dad was an amateur photographer and sculptor, my mom earned money for her family in the Philippines drawing portraits and airbrushing photos. I grew up with an appreciation for museums and took art classes in high school. After graduating with a BFA in painting from Boston University, I moved back to San Francisco where I worked for a commercial photography studio as an image retoucher and junior photographer. We worked for Williams Sonoma, Levi’s and Design Within Reach, among others. It was a practical skill that enabled me to earn a living while making art on nights and weekends.
After getting my MFA from Columbia and completing an artist residency abroad in Doha, Qatar, I got a job with an art gallery in New York through a friend and grad school classmate. It provided me with enough stability to have my own place and studio in New York. A trip back to the Philippines with my Mom in my early 30s offered a new perspective and direction in the studio. I realized these experiences with family could be processed through painting, and I liked being a student of Filipino culture through these trips.
I’m currently transitioning into life as a full-time entrepreneur and artist. About two years ago, I opened Bischoff Inn, a 5-room boutique hotel and artist residency in Tamaqua, PA. I also just had my first solo show in NYC at Kristen Lorello.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I love realizing projects from an idea into reality, whether that’s a building renovation, a painting, or a public art piece. The best part about being an artist is the connection and conversation between the project and myself. It may sound strange, but there is an element of developing a relationship with an inanimate object and bringing it to full potential.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I had to unlearn expectations about what it means to “make it”. Back in New York, especially in grad school, I felt a lot of pressure to be recognized – show with a prominent gallery, sell paintings for high prices, etc. When it didn’t happen then, I felt like a failure. It wasn’t until my early 30s that I decided to shift my perspective. I wasn’t making art for prestige – I made it because I wanted to, even if no one ever would see it or buy it. That opened up a sense of freedom from both judgment and desire to be accepted by others. Making art on my own terms was more rewarding than making it for everyone else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mariastabio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mstabio/
