Rising Stars: Meet Maria Cornella of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Cornella.

Hi Maria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Maria, and I’m a nonbinary illustrator attending my final year at SCAD, born in the Atlanta area. Ive always had an interest in art from a young age and gravitated towards creative hobbies as a means to express myself. Although I was born in Atlanta, I spent my childhood in Europe, learning about different cultures and experiences that now influence my art. From the age of 5 I lived in Berlin, Germany, where I spent 5 1/2 years and learned to speak fluent German. In Berlin, I met many people from all over the world and took various art classes and courses at museums, which fueled my passion for art and creating. At the age of 10 I moved to Dublin, Ireland, where I was surrounded by nature and the ocean and immersed in Irish culture and history. Now I am back in Atlanta, where I was born, working on refining my artist voice and style and creating illustrations that reflect my experience, often incorporating themes and mythology from the places I have been as well as who I am as a person.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t describe my journey as smooth, more like complicated and different. Never really having a stable place to call home and moving schools and countries many times comes with its rewards, as well as its own challenges. It was hard to make friends, connect with people, and maintain long-term relationships along the way. Since I was young I’ve known that I was different because I am neurodivergent, which has contributed to my struggles but also my passion as an artist. I’ve always gravitated towards creative endeavors and art, but wasn’t necessarily supported or encouraged to pursue that path until after high school, when I started my undergraduate degree at SCAD. Now I’m lucky to be where I am and to have the support of my friends and family as I continue to pursue my passion and grow as an artist.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I would say what I do is create, primarily as an illustrator (specializing in publication and advertising), but also by experimenting with different mediums and creative pursuits and blending them together. Throughout my life, I’ve been searching for answers to these types of questions as I’ve taken so many different paths, but I finally feel everything coming together. In terms of my voice as an artist, I enjoy storytelling and mythology as well as anything gothic, unconventinal and queer. I cannot help but make my art feel personal and a reflection of myself because I have been trying to communicate who I am for my whole life. I am most proud when I finish a piece and create something that hopefully means something to other people as much as it does to me. I believe what sets me apart is how I approach things and the approach I take, as being able to adapt to anything and always be authentic with myself and the people around me. In the world of illustration, everyone is trying to make a name for themselves and be successful, but I believe that community and connections are the most important things, and that we should lift each other up as artists to create beautiful things.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I would describe myself as definitely unique, to put it in a positive way, but I was a challenging kid. I was introverted but also off the walls when I got comfortable with people. I was always interested in crafts and media from different genres like TV, games, and movies. Ive always been very serious about my interests and when I like something, I really like it, which sometimes can be a lot when I keep talking about what I like to other people. Over the years I’ve calmed down, but I am still passionate about all the things that inspire me and connect with people who share and appreciate what I care about.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://mariacornella.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wynnother/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariacornella