Meet Maya Khalil | 3D & Motion Graphics Artist

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

Hi Maya, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
My journey as an artist has been a series of risks so far. As an Egyptian artist who was born and raised in the Middle East, I felt that it was best for me to move to New York in 2018 to continue my bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and Motion Graphics. This decision was the result of my previous college lacking the resources and variety when it came to art programs. Adapting to a new culture and a very different environment was really tough at first. But, the excitement and determination made it all worthwhile.

The biggest risk I’ve taken, however, was leaving a stable job to go back to school and study 3D and game development full-time. While I am incredibly grateful to have had the privilege to be able to make this decision, the uncertainty of pursuing a master’s degree in an unstable field was scary at first. Every day presents new challenges, but it’s through these risks that I find my greatest rewards.

I believe in destiny. I am also a firm believer that our fates are already written and that nothing can interfere with what is meant for us. This belief gives me the strength to take risks, knowing that they are simply steps towards my ultimate purpose. As an artist, facing any sort of risk is inevitable. I think the smartest thing to do is embrace it as It is a crucial ingredient for our creative processes and our character development.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Coming from a background that has always valued the arts, I always try to fuse my culture with any project I build. I’m also constantly pushing to add more representation for Arabs, but especially Arab women within my work and field. It is all a work in progress and while I’ve faced some obstacles, I’ve met a lot of Arabs who appreciate this notion and want to do the exact same in their work. That being said, it taught me to change my mindset from “why don’t we have proper representation for Arabs?” to “How can I integrate proper representation into this main idea?” The way I’d describe my brand and thought process is pretty much “Fine, I’ll do it myself.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would probably spend the week moving from place to place if we had the time. We love the sun very much and as a 3D artist, I always look for places that spark inspiration. I also love going to art-centered areas that fuse tech and art together. AND I love both iced tea and coffee so much. So, if the sun and any of these two are present, I think we’ve already created our own fun!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It would take me at least three whole pages to mention every single person I’m grateful for. I think my biggest mentor in my life though has been my older sister, Dina Khalil! She is the biggest reason I fell in love with that field in the first place. She’s always been a creative inspiration to me! I’m also grateful to all of my professors who have given me the motivation to continue doing what I love and constantly pushing me to do better.

Website: https://www.mayakhalil.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayakhalil.c4d/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Mayakhalill