Meet Mario Garcia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mario Garcia.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I am a 25-year-old artist from Phoenix, AZ. I grew up in a house with five sisters and my mother. I was the only boy. All my life, I’ve been an explorer. Exploring ideas, the oddities of the mind, the neighborhoods, and many other things that add meaning and color to life. From destruction, to creation; I never really held myself back. I was always given the freedom to create, even with limited resources, and Art was the one thing that never seemed to leave the picture. I’ve been through many phases, lived in many different places, but I always had a pretty good idea of who I am and what made me different from others. My purpose is constantly revealing itself, and my greatest source of joy is helping others find Their purpose.

Please tell us about your art.
My art is an extension of the beauty I find in my religion. I am a Mexican American Muslim, who has a very deep love for Islamic art. The structure, the precision, the geometry: it all speaks to me. I’ve spent the last eight years perfecting my own styles of Arabic Calligraphy. While respecting the masters before me, I never set boundaries to how and what I create. I take a multi-dimensional approach, when scripting, to induce sensations in the observer, rather than thoughts. I work with markers, pens, and paint. My objective is to expose the beauty that I find in Islamic art, the beauty that has been there long before my time. I do it in a way that transcends ideology, and focuses more on the experience of the observer. My hopes are to connect with others through this universal agreement we all share, which is Art.

As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
Success to me, is defined as the constant application of one’s purest, longest interest, to the point of completion from within. Money isn’t a determining factor, but rather an outcome that comes and goes. I believe the words we speak to ourselves and others are the determining factors of whether we succeed, or fail. Nobody can convince us, the way we’re able to convince ourselves. Most artists use the experience of others to generate the expectation in their own artistic journey, which I believe is the leading cause for why most artists fail or get discouraged.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My work is making its way around Phoenix, particularly in the downtown area. A good amount of it can be found at Unexpected Art Gallery, a creative space that is very dear to me. My social media is where I document my journey and creations. I love to teach my techniques, and see how others can apply their own creativity to this majestic script. Community is everything to me! The best form of support I get comes from my involvement with different communities.

Contact Info:

• Website: QLMDESIGNS.COM
• Phone: 6026682529
• Email: qlmdesigns@outlook.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/qlmdesigns
• Facebook: facebook.com/qlmdesigns

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.