DANIE MAIO
Danie Maio is an illustrator currently drawing and living in Allston, Massachusetts. She graduated with a BFA from the Lesley University College of Art and Design, where she currently teaches undergraduate students as an adjunct professor of the illustration department. Danie enjoys making images that focus on her relationship to her mental health, making light of darkness, and the vulnerability and tenacity of being a very human person.
Website: daniemaio.com
Instagram: @daniemaio
ARTIST Q&A
Born: Nyack, NY
Currently lives: Allston, MA
Title of artwork: Take Up Space
What’s it about? Like a handful of my work, ‘Take up Space’ was inspired by a conversation had with my therapist during session. Living with mental illness and trauma is something that can be suffocating to the body. I am so grateful for the professional mental health care that I receive and acknowledge the privilege of my access to it. ‘Take up Space’ is a celebration of daily head and heart work, a reminder that you are deserving of focusing loving energy inward, and a message that going through bad things does not make you a bad person.
Where else can we find your work? My work occasionally floats around the local Boston music scene in the form of flyers and merch! But you can find my work on my website daniemaio.com or on instagram @daniemaio. Stop by and say hi!
What is your favorite art piece in the area?Somerville based Illustrator and Designer James Weinberg of @weinbergdesign has this vibrant mural of a fox in the woods on the side of a restaurant building going into Arlington. I pass by it on my commute to work and am always so floored by the colors and shapes of the work.
What would your last meal be? When a flaming sword is plunged through my chest during the raging plight of the Skeleton War I hope that a Rainbow Harvest bowl from Life Alive fueled my courage to die a hero’s death.
Who would play you in a movie? Rizzo the Rat from the muppets is only performer who could portray my NY accent and scrappiness with terrifying accuracy.
Go-to karaoke song? “Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush. Definitely don’t have the range for it but it’s such a bananas sounding song and I could definitely dance the sh*t out of.
Best sweet treat in Allston? Vegan ice cream from Fomu is always a go to for me as the weather gets nicer. I recommend getting a scoop of the lavender with a scoop of the chocolate pudding, the floral/chocolate flavor combo is my favorite.
Favorite summer activity? I enjoy the simple things in life during the summer season. Like when my deep seasonal depression subsides and leaves me with my normal baseline depression to enjoy eating tacos on outside restaurant patios, visiting farmers markets, and swimming in the ocean with a sense of existentialism and hopeful pensiveness.
