Since 2017, art_works has collaborated with over 300 artists on major site-specific commissions, public art projects, acquisitions, and temporary exhibitions across the United States and Canada. We count ourselves lucky to be in dialogue with so many talented and dynamic people, and we want to share more from the community we have built. Studio visits are a cornerstone of our practice and something we do to get to know artists, see what they are working on, and check in on our active projects together. Join us over the next few months for this behind-the-scenes series of studio visits with some of the wonderful people in our community.

For our first studio visit, we met with Maya Erdelyi, an award-winning artist, designer, and director from New York City, NY. She is currently based in Boston, MA, where she is a faculty member in Animation at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University. Her hand-crafted animations and collages are inspired by imaginary worlds, memories, and the unconscious. 

Before Maya embarked on an upcoming trip with her family in early 2023, we got a chance to visit her home studio and chat about what has been on her mind. Our wide-ranging conversation touched on travel, art practice, placemaking, teaching, and wayfinding.

art_works: What does your upcoming multiple-destination trip entail?

Maya Erdelyi: First, we are heading to Maine and NYC to catch up with family. Then we will stay in LA for a bit to see some artist friends and old professors - maybe some sleepover parties! After our domestic travels, we will fly to Japan and travel up and down the country by train. This is the first time my husband and I are traveling to Japan after our honeymoon several years ago. Some things on my mind include visiting Naoshima Island and the Ghibli Museum, attending some workshops to be exposed to art forms such as ikebana and calligraphy, as well as soaking in the beauty of the meticulous design that is everywhere. Being in different places and doing new things inspires my creativity, so I will aim to do 1-2 hours of focused work per day on this trip. I am also looking forward to taking the time on this trip to ask some big questions that will inform the next stage of my career.

a_w: It sounds like locales inform and inspire your art practice. Could you share with us how your experience living in New York and Boston plays into your life as an artist?

ME: The interesting thing is that the cities are not too far apart. I still visit New York from time to time, but I have found a grounded routine at my house in Boston over the past few years, especially for this phase of my life, having started a family and now raising a kid. Boston has been super nice to me - the city has given me a lot of support as an artist. I have been able to grow my art career here and build a wonderful art family.

a_w: You also teach in Boston at the SMFA. How does that relate to your individual practice?

ME: More and more for me, working with other people is what keeps me the most excited. I am a people person and love sharing. I got into education because it felt right for me. It felt like I was doing something of value. Also, as you teach, you become smarter by knowing how to express information. It is important for me to balance my teaching and work so what I teach as a working artist is valuable. In the past, I have had professors whose work I loved, which made me really want to learn from them. As a teacher myself, I try to include art and artists that inspire me in the curriculum that I present to my students.

a_w: Your studio is full of inspiration. Could you share with our viewers your favorite corner in this space?

ME: Absolutely! This is the view out of my studio window. Here you see memories from different parts of my life, photos of family, my friends, reminders to myself, sweet notes sent to me, magic lantern slides, a bottle I found on the beach with a fully intact seashell, a necklace that says “magic”, a geodesic dome in the garden, a butterfly wing I found, some clay ears I sculpted ages ago – a reminder to listen…

a_w: Being in this space is like immersing oneself in the creative world you construct with your art, full of saturated colors, interlocking shapes, and endless imagination. What informed your style?

ME: I’m a sucker for color. It just feels good. Seeing what color looks good and what colors work well next to each other is like a game. It feels like a language that I understand.

a_w: That explains the exploratory nature of your work. Maya, thank you for welcoming us into your studio! We look forward to updates on your travels.

ME: My pleasure!