Today we’d like to introduce you to Magdala Charles.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am known as “Magdala Charles”, an artist, born in Arcahaie, Haiti on July 24, 1996, and raised in Brooklyn, NY and now residing in Miami, Florida, with a lifelong dedication to the visual arts. My passion in the arts strongly grew while I was in my last year of college in 2018. As I dedicated my time and passion to the arts, I began doing graduation cap designs, graphic design and painting. My bold and passionate work reflects an abundant dimension of my experiences in Haitian culture and feminism. As my works with acrylic on canvas, my passion begins with creating contemporary art for this young generation for them to relate and appreciate fine art in a world where everything is about technology.
I moved to Miami to continue my education in law school. Unfortunately, the odds turned against, every door I painted for myself in the first six months closed on me. I had no other choice but to pick up my paintbrush to trust God and let him build a path for me and that surprisingly helped me grow as an artist. My Artelier’s mission is to continue to use myself made brand to support students in Haiti to receive a great education through the arts, hoping one day to open an art school. I also hope to showcase my work around my community. She continues to be a creative spotlight not only as an artist but as an inspiration to others like myself, who are young professionals in my community.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has most definitely not been a smooth road. I never thought in a million years that I would move to a whole different state and become an artist. I come from a family who holds pride in going to school than following your dreams. I didn’t even think I had a gift. I’ve struggled both emotionally and mentally. There were days where I’ve felt like the roof was falling off my head. For example, when I first moved to Florida, I was in Orlando, living with a friend of a friend who was a completely stranger, who later turned vicious towards me and tried to get me locked up in jail. But other struggles I faced was finding a job 24 mins from my apartments which later became 3 hours because I had no vehicle. The NYC city girl that I was thought that I had it all under control because I thought that being used to public transportation was no big deal. But not in ORLANDO. I had to wake up every day at 5 AM just to make it to work at 8:30 AM on time for my 9. AM clock in.
On weekends, I would go to my law school prep class, come home and go to church the next day, than repeat. After all, I thought I had my dreams goals all lined up. I moved out of NYC. I got a job two weeks after moving. Began my law school prep courses, etc. Not until COVID came along. I lost everything. I lost my job. My scholarship to get into law school. My grandmother who raised me without my parents ever being in my life. Learning my father had heart failure. My roommate making false accusations to get me in jail. It was all a nightmare. Everything happening all at once. I had no one in Orlando. Not one friend to help me at the time. I was in a dark place. Until my aunt advised me to move to Miami where she was.
On June 19th, I took the train to move to Miami, but not only that, it was the beginning of my career as an artist that surprisingly took a leap! Once I moved in with my aunt, I thought things would get better but living with my aunt because I was very uncomfortable and had no privacy. There I decided to get my own place. After going back and forth with the leasing agents, they finally gave me the okay to move in. It was a 285 square feet apartment. It had everything I needed. From their my platform took a leap where friends and family purchased my art and t-shirts, grossing over $5,000 that first month. That experience gave me strength. It gave me faith from that time of launching t-shirt and art. In that same season, I conducted a paint and sip with over 150 people, as well as participating in my very first art exhibition with other artists in NYC. Today, I just signed a lease to my new apartment, which will contain my very first small studio. I can’t say I am proud of myself yet, but I’ve come a long way. My goal is to continue to display my work in the Miami area which I have not yet had the opportunity to do so. But to also meet young, gifted entrepreneurs who are dedicated and committed to their passion.. I want to meet greatness and hungry, young, and gifted individuals like myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a visual artist. My work reflects an abundant dimension of my experiences, Haitian culture and feminism. Magdala works with acrylic on canvas and mixed media. My works include acrylic on canvas and mixed media. My passion begins with creating contemporary art for this young generation for them to relate and appreciate fine art in a world where everything is about technology. I am most proud of my work and how far I’ve come. Form designing graduation class to now becoming a self-taught artist. From designing graduation caps to now becoming a self-taught artist.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I’ve learned many important lessons on this journey. Ill tell you three. 1. Don’t give up, it is only when you give up you fail. 2. Don’t let your success depend on other’s. 3. I am right where I need to be.
As I have been learning to become self sufficient. I’ve learned that so much people will paint false narratives for you. They will sell you so much dreams and make you feel like you’re not doing enough. I had to learn that things don’t happen overnight and they don’t happen quickly because I want them to. There is a lesson in every failure. There is something to see in every situation, every obstacle that I face in this journey and I won’t learn to appreciate it unless I go through each phase needed for my elevation. Needed for my growth. Needed for my success. Needed for my future. So I had to learn to accept my failures. To accept the time frame of where I am. I had to learn that I am right where I need to be. Because I know that Greatness comes from me and I know my potential and how far I’m willing to go.
Pricing:
- Prints – $20-$75
- Merchandise – $25-$175
- Art- $1500-$5000
- Classes – $650- $2500
- Commission Art $650-$1500
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @mc_artelier
