Maria is a proud Afro-Latina from the Bronx, raised by two immigrant parents in lower-income communities. In an environment where art was neither prioritized nor offered as a career option, it was never part of her education or seen as essential. Yet, art found Maria when she needed it the most. It became her refuge, allowing her to process complex emotions and serving as a powerful tool for problem-solving. The act of creating drew Maria in, teaching her valuable lessons along the way. Through art, she learned acceptance and discovered that change is not something to fear but to embrace. Most importantly, Art taught Maria that perfection is not the goal and that imperfection is beautiful
