Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Wood
Hi Maya, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my art journey in middle school, sketching anime characters and falling in love with the manga art style. Inspired by various anime, my interest in art grew. During that time, I discovered MCAD (Minneapolis College of Art and Design) and was captivated by the self-portraits in their pamphlet. I hung it up in my room as a reminder of my dream to become an artist, pushing myself to work harder.
In middle and early high school, I took weekend “how-to” classes at MCAD to explore the campus and get a feel for college life. When I attended JM (John Marshall High School) in Rochester, MN, I immersed myself in art classes, and by then, I knew even more that I wanted to become an artist. One day, someone from MCAD came to speak to my class. Though I wasn’t yet a student, I felt proud, knowing I had already taken classes there and learned about MCAD’s various majors and opportunities, which made me want to attend MCAD even more after high school.
In my senior year, I was accepted into the two-week “Pre-College Summer Session” at MCAD for two consecutive years. This experience solidified my belief that MCAD was where I could freely express my creativity, grow, and deepen my passion for art. During the pre-college course, I learned more than I could have imagined over the two weeks, and it was like finding a missing puzzle piece that brought everything together. MCAD became the place where I could push my art further, explore new subjects, and apply everything I learned to my artistic and personal growth.
In 2021, I officially began my studies at MCAD. Over the past three years, I’ve gained valuable knowledge, honed my skills, and continued to grow personally and professionally. I currently work with photography, painting, collage, and sculpture, and I’m also developing a performance art piece for my senior project. Additionally, I’m building a website to showcase my work and prepare for life after MCAD. In my life, I strive to create art that comes from the mind, carries meaning, and flows from the soul, driven by a deep passion for creativity and the freedom that surrounds me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it wasn’t a smooth road. I had to work hard for what I wanted, and during high school, I was dealing with personal challenges that made life difficult. Despite this, I was fortunate to have supportive people around me who recognized my deep love for art. I would light up with a huge smile when talking about the things I was creating or planning. My art teachers and my mom were always there to listen to my endless stream of ideas, even if I had a new one every half hour. Their support and encouragement helped me through my journey to where I am now. I’m lucky to have had such great people in my life, so I never gave up on my dream and passion for art.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
This is a tricky question because my answer has changed many times over the past few years. I’m studying Fine Arts with a concentration in photography, but my work falls into many mediums. I create everything from basic drawings and paintings to digital works and collages, and recently, I’ve returned to clay and sculpture. My art constantly evolves because I aim to bring the ideas in my head to life, which is why I’m an artist.
With photography, I capture quick, unnoticed moments in life or tell visual stories that leave the viewer asking questions—questions they’ll never get the answer to unless I reveal them. When I paint, I create abstract pieces, allowing my ADHD to guide me as I turn off my mind and let my hands take over, exploring colors and movement freely. I let my emotions and the spontaneity of the moment flow into my work. Each piece becomes a reflection of my inner world, raw and unfiltered.
I’m drawn to hands-on processes because I want to feel every part of what I’m creating. Whether it’s shaping clay or layering paint, I enjoy making something real, tangible, and “down to the bone.” To me, art is about connection—between mind, body, and medium—and I strive to express that in everything I do.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miffy_xyzz
