We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maya Nicole . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maya below.
Maya , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
My most meaningful project to date is, without a doubt, titled REDEFINING: A GALLERY EXPERIENCE of March 2022. This project was actually the first solo art show I hosted in honor of my 25th birthday. I had been daydreaming of a solo show for two years prior but always put it out of my head. Yet, so many things had taken place prior that made me feel like I’d land okay if I leaped. Before I fully submerged myself into my art career, I did digital strategy & experiential marketing for a Black-owned marketing agency putting in over 100+ hours a month. I was only pursuing creative projects on the side as passion projects. But, I realized I didn’t want a side serving of that fire anymore. I needed to feel it every single day. Eventually, I left that position to pour into myself and my he(art). Now we have the riskiest move I’d make that year with no real plan or strategy for the future. Most would not recommend what I did. It was rash and impulsive, but as an Aries sun, it was pretty natural. Oh, how dreamers can dream! But this leap of faith inspired all the decisions I would make leading up to March. I became fierce in the protection of self and opened up to the possibilities of things working better than I imagined.
By January, I decided I was having a show for my birthday. I couldn’t see the money in my account, but I could see the vision. I could hear the music softly playing as people admired my pieces on the wall. So I searched for spaces and curated my layout for each location I liked. I found the perfect spot about a few weeks into my search. Aesthetically, I wanted an open space with large windows to intrigue people walking by. I got that plus; unique payment plans and a full circle location in my childhood neighborhood. In this moment, everything felt right and I was confident. There really is no better mantra than “fake it till you make it” because some how I got all the money I needed for the show. I was also blessed to work with talent who bartered services with me to bring the event to fruition. I’d be lying if I wasn’t also VERY stressed during the time I was prepping. The illusion of time gets the best of me sometimes. But the turnout was better than I expected. I still get chills when I think about it sometimes. I did it all on my own which is what I needed to show myself. I needed to see myself living in this specific dream to affirm that I was not living in a fantasy. Sometimes I feel like a dreamer forever drifting on a cloud; that was the earthly magic that has moved me into September. By pursuing my passions, I’m doing what I’ve always done, create. I didn’t realize it then when I was putting on shows for my grandparents, but I was experiencing true bliss. By the time I was 25, I could no longer deny the calling.
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
My name is Maya Nicole, and I’m a New York City born and influenced abstract and intuitive style self taught artist. This past year, I celebrated my first anniversary as a full-time artist/entrepreneur with my brand #DEFINED/#DEFIN3D. Previously, I spent the past three years slowly introducing myself to the creative world through many passion projects & mediums. I consider myself to be an artist without limitations. You can find me styling, shooting film, painting on canvas, and more! All my unique interests still complement and have developed my 1-of-1 style and eye. A visionary mind can see what most eyes cannot, the things in between that thin line. I love to express deep self-reflection and bold emotion in my work. I want my work to be my truth that will inspire others to dig deep and speak on their own or find comfort that someone shares a similar one.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Society could best support the creative ecosystem by redefining some of the cultural values by; living in the present and empowering themselves to make community-based decisions. We are a society almost obsessed with nostalgia and revisiting things that worked at one point. In areas such as music, fashion, movies & other entertainment, you can count on a good sample, reboot, or rewrite. Are we not bored yet? I think it’s beautiful to pay tribute to what was before us, honoring the paths that have been opened for us. Cool beans! But, what about the new perspectives that need to be birthed into the world. If people are not living in the present, they will push away what is new, clinging to what is in the past. Now how many situations come to mind when you read that sentence? You know the best thing sometimes is to just move forward and accept the new. Artists need this; to believe they are appreciated and wanted in the now, not moments after they are gone. But this happens when the collective comes together on what they truly want to value. Outside of the daily programming of what they want us to think. There is no future without the present moments. We don’t have to wait on major corporations or celebrities to shoe in the trends. Supporting small businesses and creatives is how you make direct impact onto society. There are voices that share your unique perspective, pain and purpose right in your communities. Yet, they’re constantly ignored because of the lack of commercial success. Don’t you want to be apart of the early adopters of the next generation? Pay attention to the underdogs around you!
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
NFTs have been a hot topic since the panoramic hit. They have taken the art world to another dimension, literally. Allowing the artist to create a digital file, upload it to a cloud and then sell it for thousands or millions. Everything stays on the computer, in the ethers somewhere it is not a tangible art piece. Now, this is where my skepticism comes into play. Maybe I’m biased, but one of the best parts of creating is the physical and sensory experience. Whether you get to paint on the canvas, hold a camera or sew fabrics together, there is a process that grounds you when using your hands. The support the NFT artist received almost immediately felt jarring as I was still getting my feet wet as an artist. Supporting artists in the real world is just as important; the digital world can’t be all there is for us in the future. Pay for my canvas art just like it was an NFT.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shedefinesart.bigcartel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayaaanicole__/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/KPxtnAqwUEI
Image Credits
Photographer: Afisha Superville