Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria M. Mohiuddin.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Eastern culture and western living may be the most earnest way to describe my story. I am a daughter of diplomat father and a Bangladeshi Member of Parliament mother. I have three siblings, one being a twin sister. I have an amazingly beautiful and close family, as well as lifelong friendships borne from a mid-western college experience. Prior to August 2016, I was employed with the City of New York within the child welfare system for roughly 16 or so years.
Please tell us about your art.
My work is predominantly created in wax and oil pastels – materials that compliment my curious obsession with fire. I began this experimentation in wax paintings in 2005. I began using wax as a predominant tool after destroying a displeasing piece of oil pastel with candle wax. Once the wax dried and was peeled off, it left a wonderful textured marking on the paper. I began using wax on all my oil pastels works, while saving the dried wax in a jar. Once the jar was full, I began partially melting the dried wax on glass. There seemed to be endless ideas with creating with wax drops, that I soon began creating exclusively with it.
I feel I am most inspired by my experiences and by those around me. Ultimately, my work is autobiographical; self-portraits of a time and place in my life and/or of an emotion felt. I believe the strongest message I wish to convey in my work is the common threads that defines us and makes us who we are as living beings, and a desire to be known and seen by others.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
I left my job in August 2016, which was a huge shift in the way I live and the things I can afford. Thankfully, I have tremendous help from my family, but I continue to struggle with this. Although I left my employment for separate reasons, I would always suggest ensuring a viable financial resource, and being gainfully employed helps a great deal.
Working and creating can be a struggle and expect that it will be difficult. I find setting out time to create and sticking to it is the best, long term, way to remain creative. Creating work may take longer, but it will get done.
Finding a group of artists that you can trust and share ideas with can be invaluable. Depending on your community, there can be any number of art organizations that can help connect you to other artists and opportunities.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
The best way for folks to see my work would be Instagram (@mahanarts1) or my FB page, Maria Mohiuddin. Otherwise, I have a website, www.MahanArts.com. I am available for any questions or interest in my work via these site as well as via MahanArtist@gmail.com.
I recently finished prepping for my very first solo show, which is scheduled for being on June 29th, 2018 at the Foundry Centre in St. Charles MO. I will have some additional shows coming up in NYC with the art collective, Virago Crew, which also has its own FB page.
Contact Info:
- Address: Maria M. Mohiuddin
- Website: www.MahanArts.com
- Phone: 9143964322
- Email: MahanArtist@gmail.com
- Instagram: MahanArts1
- Facebook: Maria Mohiuddin
Image Credit:
Ian Dudley
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