Ana Maria Selvaggio
Creating is how I feed my soul. I can't not create. Creative play is joy for me; it's how I support myself and others. It's my wellness.
VOTING OPENS SOON
Who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their artwork at The Art of Elysium's Salon?
Voting opens Monday, May 4th at 10AM PDT
Want to know more about The People's Artist?
Learn MoreWhat is your favorite type of art to create?
Interactive. There's something special about being able to touch and interact with a piece of art. I work in several mediums from gouache to fabric to bookbinding. Being able to combine different mediums into a unique piece creatively that has a life of its own, a story, is so fulfilling. I love creating worlds as a writer and being able to manifest something physically is its own special brand of magic. Once real, being able to share it and see its impact, even on one person, is everything.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere. There is magic in the everyday and I don't think I could pin down any one thing. I could be cooking, outside in nature, brainstorming for an hour, or I could have something come to me in a dream, a memory, or someone's smile. I stay open through every experience, good or bad, and what it can teach me. I tend to journal a lot, and I'm a planner. I have more sketchbooks than I could ever act on in one lifetime. Every piece has a story to tell, and I love the diversity of them all.
What would you do with $25,000?
Get desperately needed dental surgery and replace my 20-year old car, both are freedom. Anything left, I would support a charity in my community. The majority of my projects, especially my bigger ones, involve a charitable contribution or an educational element. It's a way to interact, a way to give back. Despite the challenges in my life, I feel very blessed. Being able to play muse and mentor through my work has kept me going. I'm very "lift as you climb" and I love seeing other people thrive.
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