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"The spark has always been there," says artist and nonprofit founder Maggie O'Neill. "I was raised to believe you do what you can, where you are, with what you have, to shine a light on injustice. After 20 years of designing spaces and creating art, I realized I needed to do more with this unique power to connect people to emotion, humanity and diplomacy. Using my art as advocacy felt like the most natural extension of who I am and what I stand for."
Last year, O'Neill's Forever Fearless exhibition-statues of little girls made by emerging and established artists-was a revelation. Its mission stemmed from its sister organization, Vote for Your Daughter, and it was funded by the nonprofit Our Daughters' Futures Fund
"It sparked awareness and dialogue around the rights, safety and freedoms of women and girls," says O'Neill. "The project was intended to be a grassroots movement beginning as a local project and growing into a national movement. The most gratifying part? Seeing people interact with the statues, pause and reflect on real-life implications of the policies that shape these girls' futures."
O'Neill says everyone has a story, and sharing each one is critical. "While we are all Americans with the same inalienable rights, it's not the same for a little girl growing up in Nebraska as it is for a girl in Tennessee or Vermont."
Does O'Neill worry that her work might be too political? "I's a balance that I've worked at for two decades. I have struggled with it more recently than ever, as our political climate has become increasingly polarized. As a business owner and entrepreneur, I used to worry about what clients would think if I got too political. I now realize there's no room for that fear as long as I intend to unite people through colorful storytelling in the name of human rights and social justice.
The artist's work is rooted in color, and she loves that it creates a connection for inspiration and joy. "I've evolved in my commercial design work-designing over 80 restaurants, nightclubs and currently the renovation of DC's Willard Intercontinental Hotel. I believe in the power of hospitality as another form of artistic diplomacy. My advocacy-driven pieces come from the same place of passion around art, design and hospitality, but they serve a different purpose."
Above all, O'Neill's advice for Gen Z is simple: "Build a community of support and constructive criticism with other artists, activists, collectors and patrons who will support and challenge you. And most importantly, let your art be your truth—that authenticity drives real connection and impact."
For the past twenty years, painting the Capitol has been a meaningful part of my creative journey.
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