We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marie Antoinette a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marie, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Recently, I had the opportunity to facilitate a window installation at the gallery where I am in residency. The project was impactful on many levels. As an emerging self taught artist this would be a defining moment. I realized that this was about much more than a belief that I could successfully deliver and would require not only confidence ,creativity and tenacity, I would need a team a community. The story of how the window came about is, in many ways, the story of my life: full circle moments coming together to create wonderful opportunities and experiences to showcase my passion for creating. _. When I was a teenager, there was a store in my hometown that was known for their fashionable window displays. I was always infatuated with the possibility of designing a window for the store. When I was in high school, and throughout college I produced regular fashion shows and fashion photo shoots. During my junior year in college , I inquired about designing the window display, for free. The store manager politely declined my offer. I put my disappointment on a shelf and went on with my life. Forty years have passed and I was approached by the curator of the gallery to do the exact thing I had wanted to do all those years prior. These windows were much larger and they were going pay me. I had 6 weeks to conceptualize and complete the window display. and with the help of my artistic community, Koi Therory was realized. I am very proud of this project and fully intend to pursue more art installations.

I have fond memories of the experience as well as a deep sense of accomplishment for my nineteen year old self, I did not know I still had this unresolved desire until the opportunity presented itself. However when I look back, the best part of the project for me was not solely the completion but equally it was the the journey. As mentioned before, I had 6 weeks to complete the install, in hindsight, that was an enormous undertaking that would not have been possible without the support of the community that wanted to see me succeed. I am profoundly grateful for the support and grace I received during this time. I was in the studio around the clock, people would show up with breakfast, lunch and dinner. There was always a helping hand, or a good joke and when needed a shoulder to lean on. I grew as an artist because the situation dared me to rise to the occasion for that I am thankful. I realized: collaboration, community, confidence, faith, a decent budget and the confidence of that nineteen year old were all I needed .

To date this project has been very rewarding, I have been able to witness peoples reactions in real time and converse about their perspectives. I have had the opportunity to share my experience with others and have them tell me that they too are inspired. What more can an artist ask for?.

Marie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Marie Antoinette,I am a self taught mixed media artist. I have always been creative and have been told so. The title of artist was never used in reference to me although I have always been artist adjacent.
Fashion was my first love and the conduit for my artistic expression. In high school and college I regularly produced fashion shows and photo shoot. I also started a personal shopping business while in high school.

Presently I am a resident artist at Artstination Gallery in National Harbor MD.
I have a lifestyle brand named Mariposa Collective co-founded with my amazing artist daughter, Amari Diaw .
We specialize in unique,custom lamps, frames and planters as well as other home goods.
It’s a vibe!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Honestly, I have come to the conclusion that everything I have experienced in life to this point has been preparing for this creative space. I am not traditionally trained, in fact I have never taken an art class, but I always known I had works of art writing to be expressed. When I was younger I found myself often frustrated because I could not draw like my siblings, was not musically inclined nor did I dance, sing or sew, But I always had a “good eye” for fashion and decorating .
I was fifty-seven years old when I referred to myself as an artist, up until that point I had been referred to as fashionable and creative .
That was two years ago and I am having the time of my life, I am an Artist!
I guess I have to say I am resilient because I never gave up on myself and I work hard doing what I love.

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

As an emerging artist I have been blessed with a very supportive artist community. I am inspired or in awe most of the time.
The authentic growth and self awareness that comes with the creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: Mariposa-Collective.com
• Instagram: @Mariposa__Collective

Image Credits
Isabella Spaulding Marie Antoinette Amari Diaw