About The Artist

Maia (pronounced my-ee-uh) means midwife, nurse, or mother and my parents say I was appropriately named. I’m a nurturer. I want people around me to not only be happy but to have a sense of belonging, so in my art I give space to those who are constantly being told they don’t belong and tell their stories to push the spirit of compassion and empathy to the masses. Now, as a new mother to a 7 month old baby boy, I have an increasingly pressing drive to contribute to an environment where he too feels accepted and accepts others regardless of differences. 

I grew up in a Caribbean household in the Chicagoland area. My mom is from Jamaica and my dad from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. With this mix of cultures, I learned the importance of having an open mind early on. I am a strong advocate for second chances and refraining from judging people based off of a few moments in time (mindset reinforced by Bryan Stevenson's "Just Mercy" and Colossians 3:13-14). 

 I am currently attending the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) working to complete a B.A. in Art and minoring in African-American Studies. In this time, I am working to strengthen my craft while adding depth to my portraits through my coursework and experiences.

 

"Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony." Colossians 3:13-14