We recently had the chance to connect with Maura Trice and have shared our conversation below.
Maura, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Mental health. Even though conversations around it are becoming more common, there’s still a strong stigma attached. Many people fear being judged, feel powerless, or believe they should handle things on their own, which can stop them from asking for help or opening up to those closest to them.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an Italian multidisciplinary artist who developed my practice through both mural painting and photography, later expanding into sculptural fashion and wearable art. I come from an artistic family—some professional artists, others passionate hobbyists—and growing up surrounded by art played a key role in shaping my creative voice. I’m entirely self-taught, and exploration has always been central to my practice; pushing beyond what feels familiar is how I continue to grow.
My work sits at the intersection of surreal photography and conceptual storytelling, and for the first time in my most recent exhibition, I introduced sculptural, handmade fashion as a way to push my limits. I use art as a vessel for how I interpret the world, often exploring layered meanings rather than fixed narratives. I primarily work with female subjects because femininity is the lens through which I experience and understand the world—sometimes the woman is the focus, and other times she becomes the embodiment of a broader concept or message. Embracing discomfort and experimentation is essential to my practice, allowing the work to continually evolve.
My current body of work culminates in an exhibition titled It All Makes Sense (Eventually), a series that exists between reality and dream, inviting viewers to reflect on both personal and collective truths.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Being diagnosed with ADHD was a pivotal moment in how I understand both myself and the world. It allowed me to reframe my entire life—suddenly, so many aspects of my childhood and adulthood made sense, including why I often felt like an outsider. I spent years asking myself what was “wrong” with me, only to realize that nothing was wrong at all. That realization was deeply empowering. It gave me the language, tools, and self-compassion to fully access my potential through therapy and self-acceptance.
Just as importantly, it made me more open and sensitive to the struggles of others, in all their forms. Understanding my own neurodivergence helped me recognize that everyone carries invisible challenges, often shaped by systems and expectations not designed for them. The way we see ourselves—and the energy we invest in understanding and working with who we are—truly makes the difference. There’s still a great deal of misunderstanding around ADHD, often reduced to stereotypes of hyperactivity or distraction, without acknowledging its real impact on people’s lives. It’s a subject I feel strongly about and one I’m increasingly interested in exploring through my work in the future.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I’ve had a good life, and any real suffering I experienced was mostly internal—rooted in not fully understanding myself and struggling with self-esteem. That experience taught me resilience, but more importantly, it taught me compassion: toward myself first, and then toward others. It forced me to think outside the box, to adapt rather than compare myself to expectations that didn’t fit.
I learned to change what I can, work with what I have, and give myself more grace in the process. That perspective—acceptance paired with agency—is something success alone could never have taught me.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies my industry tells itself is that talent and hard work alone guarantee success. While both are essential, they’re often treated as the whole story. In reality, opportunity plays an enormous role—and access to opportunity usually requires a different kind of labor that isn’t talked about enough: networking, visibility, resources, timing, and support.
This narrative can be damaging because it implies that a lack of success is a personal failure, rather than acknowledging the structural and logistical barriers many artists face. Talent matters, effort matters—but so does being able to find, create, or be given opportunities, and that truth deserves more honesty.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m creating. There’s a deep need for me to give physical form to a feeling, and when that translation finally happens, it brings a sense of clarity and calm.
It’s a process. It begins with the excitement of an idea, followed by frantic research and the struggle of shaping the work into something real. There are moments of doubt—questioning whether I’ll be able to see it through—and then, finally, a deep sense of peace once it’s finished.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mauraartphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maura_trice_art?igsh=MTJsNWk5aHlvZm5qMg==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GbdrRMaW3/?mibextid=wwXIfr
