Meet Maggy Cuesta | Artist/Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maggy Cuesta and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Maggy, how do you think about risk?
I have always taken on risks with the idea firmly in mind that whatever happens with my endeavors – they will be a learning experience or a life changing moment or event.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I selected “Other” in your questionnaire because I have had multiple careers in my life. I worked as a graphic designer after I received by BFA, and again after receiving my MFA.
I am very proud of what I accomplished as a graphic designer; receiving multiple recognitions and awards for my design work. I was proud that during my graphic design career I always was involved in organizations that promoted design awareness, volunteered my talent and time for Non-for-Profits and guided young designers by teaching part time. I began to teach more and more and fell in love with education. Later in my career, I became the Dean of Visual Arts for New World School of the Arts, in Miami. I loved working with young creative minds, and they challenged me every single day! Just recently I have taken a new path and a new challenge, as I was hired as Interim Director for Oolite Arts, in Miami Beach. I am honored to work for this organization, and hope that my art practice and leadership experiences that I bring to Oolite Arts will prove to be beneficial for the organization. My careers have not been easy – and I would not have wanted them to be. Through these career experiences, I learned to continue my research, to continue to grow and experiment, to question the solutions and outcome, and most importantly to be open for change. I would say my story is about challenge, determination and continued growth.
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?
My friends love art – so that pre-determines when they come to visit where we would go. We love going to art museums or private collections such as; de la Cruz Collection, Rubell Museum, Perez, Moca, Bass….. We would have a fantastic drink and a great dinner, usually at a place we had never been before. And of course we would go to the beach and just enjoy life. I love living in Miami Beach for its diversity of cultures, for its food, for its nightlife and for being able to live harmoniously with nature.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I believe that in life, the successes we have are not our own, but they are shared. I am so very grateful to the support I received from my parents, they never questioned my love for the arts, they encouraged it! I feel the path I took professionally was through the guidance of two amazing professors – Frank Cheatham and Louis Danziger. Frank was my undergraduate design faculty – he was inspiring, worked us extremely hard, pushed our boundaries and made us question our ideas and solutions. Louis was my professor during my masters degree at Calarts – there are not enough words I can say about this extraordinary man. He inspired me to look within myself, and to seize the opportunities of my Cuban culture. He taught me the value of graphic design history, to take it and make it my own. He encouraged me to move to Miami, long before it became a focus in the arts, and Miami became the city which deeply shaped my life.