“I recently cleaned out my parents' garage and stumbled upon my old college essay. I had written about how I wanted to be an artist and change the world.”

Several years later, Maia Palmer is an artist, and she is changing the world. 

Originally from Delaware, Maia has  journeyed across the world, from Pittsburgh to attend college at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), and then to Hawaii, Seattle, Japan, and Spain. She held various jobs along the way, like teaching English as a second language and working at a children’s museum. In 2014, she returned to her home state and in 2020, began teaching art at Cab Calloway School, and in 2024, she was honored as Delaware’s Art Educator of the Year.

Maia in front of her work Pulling My Hair Out

“My dream job,” Maia says about her job at Cab, highlighting her enthusiasm for interacting with her students and the joy she finds in teaching. “I love it so much, it almost brings me to tears. Watching the kids, I'm in awe—like, what? They're so talented! To see them achieve something so amazing at such a young age is incredible. I hope they grow up knowing just how strong and powerful they are.”

While at CMU, she and her friend were hired as Teaching Assistants for Summer Art Camp at PAFA. Through this experience, Maia fell in love with PAFA, where she spent time drawing in Cast Hall and creating memories that left a lasting impression on her. Years later, inspired by her friend and fellow high school art teacher and artist Rachel Van Wylen, Maia returned to PAFA as a student.

Though drawing remains her preferred medium, Maia has broadened her artistic skills through painting classes at PAFA. She credits David Wilson and Al Gury with significantly impacting her artistic development. Additionally, a portrait painting workshop with Theodore Xaras enhanced her traditional techniques and complemented her conceptual skills.

Paintings created by Maia during her Continuing Education classes at PAFA.

“I've learned so much about color mixing, and I've already started incorporating some of it into my own classroom. For example, in my painting class with my kids, I’ve introduced the concept of using a limited palette. I also never really considered the role of light until David explained that outdoor highlights are cool and shadows are warm. That idea completely blew my mind."

Maia enjoys creating large-scale works, like her 30x50 inch pieces, which let her fully immerse in the creative process and explore different materials. Her goal is to maintain a consistent studio practice year-round, rather than separating ‘school months’ from ‘summer months.’ She plans to take PAFA classes in the winter, as the weekly structure helps keep her motivated.

The classes also provide a social outlet, making the experience more enjoyable and fostering supportive relationships. Maia reflects, “I think it's great to take the class with a friend, like Rachel, as it makes the experience more social and enjoyable.”

Wearing beautiful paper-quilled flower earrings made by her friend Kelly Martin (@paperhibiscus on Instagram), Maia recounts how a helpful woman she met in a class recommended a home organizing service for her messy studio, expressing how much she values the friendships she’s made through art.

"I have many artist friends, but I also have friends I met through salsa who were just starting their art journeys. For example, I connected with Kelly through salsa dancing, and we would discuss art and shows together. I was able to suggest places for her to visit. I have another friend, Tiffany Barber, who also knows from salsa. We go stand-up paddleboarding together, and I suggested she bring a sketchbook. Now, we combine our paddleboarding outings with drawing sessions.”

Maia has a passion for performance art, particularly aerial arts introduced by her sister, and envisions creating a piece where she paints while suspended from a hoop. She enjoys capturing her aerial friends in action for large-scale portraits and dreams of hosting a gallery show with live performances, artwork, and interviews. Her involvement in aerials, salsa, and bachata dancing has empowered her to embrace her strength and feminine energy.

Maia’s interest in large-scale portraiture allows her to connect deeply with people and their stories. She integrates participants' words into her art, driven by her belief in the power of storytelling. Her experience teaching English to immigrants fuels her desire to combine art with personal narratives, especially on issues like immigration.

Maia typically exhibits solo every few years and joins group shows locally. She hopes to expand her exhibitions beyond her area and raise awareness through her art, particularly with her migraine series and the Hispanic Educators project. Her work with the Delaware Historical Society celebrates Hispanic educators, featuring large-scale portraits where participants share their personal stories to reclaim their voices.

Hispanic Educators project for Hispanic Heritage Month in collaboration with Delaware Historical Society. 

"I love engaging in conversations and discovering what each person is about. I learn so much from these interactions, but I also really enjoy the process of creating art. That’s why I’m taking these classes—because I want to improve my skills. It would be incredible if I could interview someone and paint them simultaneously, but I’m not there yet."

Maia describes her migraine self-portraits as cathartic. Inspired by Clara Lieu of ArtProf.org who introduced her to Caran d'Ache NeoColor materials, and PAFA instructor David Wilson, she embraced new techniques such as blocking in light and dark areas before layering colors. These methods shaped her migraine series, evolving from simple snapshots to intricate works featuring patterns, text, and mixed media, reflecting her response to the discrimination she experienced due to her migraines. Maia uses the series to teach students about experimentation and revision.

(Left) Pulling My Hair Out, (Center) Appearances Can Be Deceiving, (Right) Hanging on by a Thread (Biggs Collection), from Maia's Migraine Series. 

(Left) Maia standing with Splitting Headache; (Right) Selfie with Pulling My Hair Out, photography by Shannon Woodloe

“I cried while making my first one. Over the years, I had made many smaller artworks related to my migraines and would often take dramatic selfies during a migraine. Eventually, I decided to expand these ideas beyond my sketchbook. I made 11 large scale pieces, all 38" x 50, done on paper with torn edges.”

Maia considers having one of her migraine self-portraits in the Biggs Museum's permanent collection her greatest accomplishment. She recalls the excitement of realizing, "I'm in a museum—I’m a real artist now." This opportunity came through Delaware's strong support for its artists. After applying for the Individual Artist Fellowship, her work was exhibited across the state, and the Biggs Museum selected one of her pieces for their collection. She was thrilled when they asked to purchase it, fulfilling her dream of seeing her artwork in a museum, a dream she had since finding old sketches in her mom's garage.

“I think a lot of us end up doing things we never expected, and that’s completely fine. We change so much that it's unrealistic to know at 18 what you'll want to do for the rest of your life. I’m, like, okay - I’m doing the things!” Maia believes that despite the challenges kids face today, such as online bullying and societal pressures, accessible public education—especially in the arts—should be fundamental for every student, not just those pursuing it as a career.

“It's about bridging the gap between your own experiences and finding ways to share that with others. Art is not just for expression but also a powerful communication tool to bring people together."

As if Maia couldn’t be any cooler - she also loves cats. Not too long ago,  she adopted three new furry friends, Hoagie (a big orange cat), Lucy (a small gray cat), and Thomasina (also gray), after her 21-and-a-half-year-old cat passed away.

Studio cats Hoagie (left) and Lucy (right).

[About Thomasina] "Around Easter, there was a stray cat right outside my apartment. I started giving her some food and then thought, 'What'll happen if I put the food in the doorway?' She literally opened the door to the apartment, finished the food, ran straight up the stairs to my apartment door, and when I opened it, she darted right into the studio. I thought, 'It was meant to be.'"

Despite the difficult start to the year, her cats have brought so much joy that Maia is channeling her love for them into coloring pages.

Keep up with Maia on her website & Instagram!

All photos provided by Maia Palmer