We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mo Sargent. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mo below.

Mo, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I have wanted to be an artist for as long as I can remember. Both of my parents are artists in their own right. My mother was a professional flute player, and my father is a graphic designer. Despite this, I was often discouraged from pursuing art beyond a hobby because of the financial limitations associated with a professional artistic career. I have worked in more conventional jobs, and those experiences made it clear to me that creating is my true calling. Anything else feels unsustainable on a deeper level.

I began my artistic journey with photography and soon after discovered ceramics in early middle school. Both disciplines remain my primary specialties today, and I cannot imagine working outside of a creative field. Reaching a level of skill beyond that of a hobbyist has brought me profound joy and fulfillment. Each time someone feels moved, inspired, or excited by something I have made, I am reminded that this is the only path that truly feels right for me.

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?

Art is at the center of my life. Creating alongside my friends is one of the primary ways I connect with my community. I entered my first professional art form, photography, at around fifteen years old. My sister and I were deeply involved in competitive equestrian sports when we were younger, and that community became the foundation of my first professional photography business. I photographed horse shows, family portraits, graduation sessions, and sales images for horses. This remains one of the largest businesses I have built to date, though recently my focus has shifted toward projects that feel more passion-driven. I now cover live music events and take on occasional gigs as they arise. Exploring new areas of photography and connecting with so many incredible artists has been deeply rewarding.

Currently, I offer both portrait and event photography. I aim to keep my work as accessible as possible, especially for artists who may not have the budget for professional photography. Supporting and promoting other artists is important to me, and giving back in this way also supports my own growth through collaboration, cross-promotion, and the continued expansion of my portfolio.

My ceramics practice and art booth are centered on wellness and spiritual healing. Working across many mediums has been essential to my ability to share positive energy through my art. My best-selling pieces are hand-poured, dressed candles set in handmade ceramic bowls. Each candle is created with a specific intention, often inspired by the energy I sense within the community. At present, my primary focus is on intentions of self-love, upliftment, and emotional healing. A defining element of my ceramic work is the eyes incorporated into many of my sculptural pieces, which are meant to be protective and energetically cleansing.

While my two primary businesses may appear very different, they are unified by the fact that each represents a distinct part of who I am. I am often described as unusual or confusing, which may be fair, but I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to express the many facets of myself through my work.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

To truly support artists, creatives, and a thriving creative ecosystem, society must first recognize that art is not a luxury or an afterthought. It is a living, breathing force that shapes culture, challenges injustice, and imagines futures beyond the limits we are told to accept. Artists have always been on the front lines of social change, especially queer artists, artists of color, disabled artists, and those whose voices are too often pushed to the margins. Supporting creativity means protecting those voices rather than silencing or sanitizing them.

Material support matters. Artists need affordable housing, accessible healthcare, fair pay, and funding structures that do not require us to dilute our identities or our messages to be considered “marketable.” Grants, residencies, and public art programs should actively uplift queer and marginalized creators, not tokenize them. A creative ecosystem cannot thrive when survival itself becomes a barrier to expression.

Society must also defend freedom of expression and bodily autonomy. Attacks on queer and trans people, censorship of books and art, and the erasure of lived experiences directly harm the creative world. When artists are allowed to exist fully and safely, our work becomes more honest, more powerful, and more transformative. Protecting human rights is inseparable from protecting art.

Finally, society must show up as participants, not just consumers. Attend shows, share work, pay artists, listen to uncomfortable truths, and let art change you. A thriving creative ecosystem is one where artists are seen, protected, and valued as essential contributors to a more just, inclusive, and livable world.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Throughout my artistic journey, I have faced significant hardship. I have been told I could not succeed, lost people to jealousy, and encountered others who refused to accept my queerness. I have experienced bullying, stalking, and profound loss as a result of my transition and the ways my art evolved alongside it. The grief of losing so many people ultimately shaped the foundation of the work I create today.

As my business transitioned away from the horse world, I began intentionally creating work for people who struggle to find authentic representations of themselves in commercial spaces. Everyone deserves access to art that fosters connection and inspiration, even when those themes make mainstream markets uncomfortable. Learning to extend that same grace to myself was essential. It allowed me to create honestly, attract a community that understands my experience, and build work rooted in shared resilience and self-recognition.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/mysticearth222
• Instagram: @mysticearth222 & @msb.photo

Image Credits

MSB Photo