Meet Marianna Desalles | Muralist, Art and Yoga Teacher

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

Hi Marianna, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have known that I wanted to be an Artist since before I was born and have made a career of being an Art Teacher to people of all ages. In that daily grind I find the balance of pursuing freelance commissions and projects as a Visual Artist and Muralist. The most fun way of life is to be creating at all times. I also chose to be an artist because it is the most effective way that I can make a difference though self and mass healing while celebrating life! Whenever I freely express the creativity that flows through me, I am giving others permission to do that too. When humans hold the key to their own creative voices and visions all becomes possible. Empowering children and adults with the medicine that is art is my mission on earth. Speaking the language of art makes the world an ever changing and intriguing place in which we can experience one another’s perspectives and stories. Painting is my favorite way to communicate and spark changes in the environment and community.

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.
Creating larger than life art excites me and that is why I love to take on mural projects, to live paint at special events and to transform spaces .Larger scaled projects allow me to invite other artists, like community members and my students to join in the process of creation with me and experience collaboration. Making art is a chance to connect and express visions and dreams.
To arrive to where I am today professionally I stayed flexible and took on any paid creative project that came across my path while working two part time child care jobs. I learned a lot about how to value myself, how to price projects and what the highest quality materials were for any given art request. These requests range from the construction of a walkthrough interactive art exhibit, to the painting of a city mural, to the orchestration of a paint and sip party, to rolling out a year long Art Curriculum to K-7th graders and countless other requests that require me to show up as different versions of the same Artist. Blazing my own path has had its peaks and valleys but the journey has been beautiful. I’ve learned that my stream of creativity is channeled from a source beyond my being and that it’s not mine to hold back from the world. Knowing this gives me strength to stand behind the art I create and allow it to shine as beacon inviting forth the artist in everyone.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Since I have a mermaid soul my idea of fun includes the ocean most of the time. I would take an out of town visitor on a bike ride along the boardwalk to all my favorite South Bay beach cities. Redondo pier would be a fun place to stop for a morning of paddle boarding through the serene harbor and pick up a unique elixir from the Racer Tea Lounge in the Riviera Village. Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach are expansive places to enjoy the sunshine on the sand and endless waves. The piers are packed with boutiques and restaurants. My favorite lunch/dinner spot is Japonica . Brunch at Un Café Altamura in MB is always delicious. Hanging out surrounded by nature is an experience that I’d love to share with any guest. Palos Verdes has scenic views, canyons, trails and coves to explore on hikes. Sunsets over the natural landscape is beauty unparalleled. Other special places worthy of showing an out of town visitor are Balboa Island in Newport Beach, Crystal Cove in Laguna Beach and Catalina Island.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to send gratitude to my family members and friends that always cheered on my art pursuits since I was a child. The University of Hawaii at Manoā was where I studied studio art, the spirit of aloha and living in harmony with nature. There I met some incredible teaching artists and peers that helped me feel a sense of belonging to a collective of creators. They helped me be proud enough of my gifts to share them. My current employers, Rolling Hills Country Day School and The Art Box Academy have given me such beautiful opportunities to grow as artist and art instructor while holding a strong and steady income over the last 7 years. I’ve met some incredible mentors at both places of work- too many to name.

Instagram: @mdesallesart