We had the good fortune of connecting with Mireya Marrero and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mireya, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?

Hello! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to interview with you. Well, from a young age, I have always been interested in the arts. I always had a reserved personality and art allowed me to creatively express myself. When I first arrived to the United States with my parents and as a Cuban immigrant at the time, it was difficult for me to adapt to my new environment. While I found myself working through language barriers, I discovered an open window of opportunity to communicate with the world around me using my creative voice. Over time, I found that art provided healing, and most importantly, it gave me a voice, which helped me build my identity over time. I have been blessed with a creative craft that has allowed me to find and use my voice which has been very important to me. My brushes have helped me communicate my voice to the world in many ways throughout my creative journey.

Art has been a significant part in building true autonomy. It has shaped who I have become through so many life experiences. There was a time in my life when I became consumed with the monotony of life and social constructs or working a full-time job and sustaining a marriage. During that stage of my life, I steered away from my creative passion for many years. I lost myself within the needs of my marriage and didn’t feel motivated to continue pursuing my art career. Years later, I was faced with tough decisions that would change my life and future. I decided to leave many years of work experience in banking administration and rerouted my path to pursue my art career. Despite the fear of the unknown for what was up ahead, I trusted the divine messages confirming I was on the right path, and I am grateful for where it has led me.

It has been a long journey with sacrifices and hard work, but my creative path has been very rewarding. I have not only empowered myself as a woman, but also found true purpose within my art career. I have a deeply rooted belief that art has the power to heal, educate, inspire, and empower generations; hence, every time I hear my works have accomplished these actions, the feeling I receive is priceless. I respond to the world around me by expressing my feelings and opinions through my artwork. I hope my artwork can continue to inspire others and remind them that their voice matters, they matter, they have a purpose, they have an identity, and they need to be seen. Pursuing an art career has allowed me to impact my community with my artwork. I have been able to advocate through my artwork on topics I strongly support such as mental health and women’s empowerment. I am also an advocate for animal-assisted therapy and art therapy, two topics that play such an essential role in our communities. I look forward to a continued creative journey, with an evolving art career.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

As a fine artist, I have always desired to create works of art that invite engagement with the audience. As an Illustrator, I enjoy the opportunity to problem solve how I could most effectively communicate what my client wants to say. In a sense, I am giving my client a voice through my illustrations, which is the best part for me. I have a passion for both Fine Arts and Illustration for these very reasons. My art frequently ties both creative worlds together. My art style is comprised of many elements. I am inspired by surrealism, elements in nature, spirituality, and culture. You will see a great deal of symbolism, refined detail, movement, and narrative in my works of art. All my artworks display specific personal attributes that describe me and what I find most important. I believe that sets my art apart from other artists. Every artist expresses their creative voice in different ways. We may revisit similar art movements or techniques from the masters of the past, but we will all introduce ourselves to the viewer in our unique creative style. Nobody has the same style; therefore, your style is unique and your stamp of originality. Nobody can create the way you do. I feel as artists, we spend a long time searching for our unique style. When we find our style, it’s imperative to use it to express our voice. I always say, “Nobody has your same style; practice it, master it and show it to the world.”

I am still building my art business and creative website; in addition, I will soon be completing my Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus in Illustration at California State University of Fullerton this Fall. Returning to school to complete my education has been a major goal of mine. It has had its challenges, but if I could do it all over again, I would. Success and accomplishment of goals require hard work, sacrifice, and dedication. We can do anything we set out to accomplish. I believe we are way stronger and more resilient than we give ourselves credit for. If I can suggest something to our community, it would be to find your community of people who will support, uplift, and empower you. Be fearless and believe in your craft and brand; as a result, the world will see that, and success will naturally follow.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Each city has its own set of signature locations to visit. I am a mellow, go with the flow, open to anything kind of woman. My friends usually like to venture with me and check out hot spots in every city. Seeing as though my friend and I are both beach lovers, Huntington Beach would be a fun location of choice. We would start with a hearty breakfast at Sugar Shack Café and work off the food with a bike ride along the beach boardwalk. Lunch would take place at Fred’s Mexican Café & Cantina while enjoying the restaurant’s balcony view, overlooking most of the pier. We would do a little shopping at nearby beach boutiques, walk the pier, and watch the sunset. We could have dinner at a restaurant with great night views of the beach and pier, such as Sandy’s Beach Shack. We would likely head home and continue the usual fun friend banter over drinks all night while catching up on what’s going on in our lives. I would probably end up cooking up a fun recipe for us to eat (I love cooking for the ones I love).

I love so many things about Los Angeles. L.A. is full of great hot spots, creative events, and fun locations to visit. Breakfast at The Perch with a fabulous rooftop view of L.A. is a must. We would visit The Last Book Store and pick up a few good reads along with music favorites. Speaking of music, If Natalia Lafourcade was in town, we would be watching her concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. If my friend was in town in late October/beginning of November, we would not miss the opportunity to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Culture is significant to me, and this is an event I would love to share with my close friends. We would visit Bottega Louie Restaurant/Gourmet Market or La Chouquette to pick up a few sweet treats and stop by Caffe Vita for great coffee. L.A. never disappoints with pop-up and creative immersive experience events, so we would be checking those out as well. Dinner at TAO Los Angeles would definitely be a place I would like to take my friends. Skyspace L.A has held yoga events in the past so I would check this out while my friend was visiting. My friend and I are constantly in the day-to-day busy work hustle, so some chill time at home with good food, drinks, music, and a visit from our close friends sounds like a great time. My fur baby, Daisy, would also jump on the opportunity to make sure my friend experiences enough cuddle time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I have been blessed with a fantastic group of supporters throughout my art career. Over the past few years, I am grateful to have crossed paths with so many great professors who recognized my talent and allowed me to shine during my educational journey. I would not be where I am today without the efforts, love, and encouragement I have received from my family and friends. Both my family, which currently resides in California and Cuba, deserve recognition for always believing in me and motivating me to stay on course during my creative journey. I am proud to be the daughter of Cuban immigrant parents. As a first-generation college student at the California State University of Fullerton, I am currently fulfilling the possibility of education because of their ultimate sacrifice. I have acquired a strong work ethic and a natural drive to meet the goals I have set out to accomplish in my career by observing how hard they have worked. I was not blessed with children, but I have a six-year-old boxer named Daisy, who means the world to me. She has been an essential part of my life and has motivated me throughout my creative journey. Dogs can provide such a special unconditional love and priceless emotional support. For these very reaons I feel so passionate about animal-assisted therapy. I am also grateful for my social media community of followers, my Facebook and Instagram family. Their support has meant so much to me and keeps me motivated to keep creating. Naturally, I feel passionate about my creative craft, but it is also rewarding to know my art connects with my community and is genuinely enjoyed.

I would like to dedicate a shoutout to my sister, Marelis Marrero (@MarelisLMFT). She has been such an important driving force in my life. We have been through so much together and have taught each other how to navigate this crazy thing called life in the best way we can. She inspires and empowers me to be the best version of myself every day. I have seen her express and practice her passion for her field as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, which has inspired me to apply the same force in my creative career. Her drive and courage to open her practice has empowered me to take confident risks and believe in my craft enough to open a creative business of my own. She has taught me the importance of self-love and how to stand confident in my skin before the world around me without fear. My sister has also taught me how to use my voice, stand up for what I believe in, and how to be genuinely unapologetic for the topics I feel passionate about. She has been such an essential individual in my life that has truly shaped me into the strong, confident woman and successful artist I am today. I hope to spread the knowledge I have learned from my sister and inspire other artists throughout my creative career.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mireyinm

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mireya_marrero

Image Credits
Photography Credit: Instagram @Staciaphotography Photography Credit: Brian Vermilion

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.