Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariam Pare.
Hi Mariam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Art has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was born in Morocco and moved to the United States with my family when I was young. I grew up in a creative household and eventually began studying art in college, with plans to build a career as an artist.
When I was 20, my life changed suddenly when I was struck by a bullet while riding in a car. The injury damaged my spinal cord and left me quadriplegic. At first, I believed I had also lost my ability to make art. During rehabilitation, however, an occupational therapist taught me to hold a pen in my mouth so I could write my name. That experience made me wonder whether I could hold a paintbrush the same way.
I began teaching myself to paint with my mouth and eventually returned to college to complete my degree in Studio Art. A major turning point came when I connected with the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists. Their support helped me continue developing my technique and build a sustainable professional career. I received an MFPA scholarship in 2006, became an associate member in 2016, and achieved full membership in 2023.
Today, I work as a multidisciplinary visual artist, creating mouth-painted works as well as digital, photographic, and mixed-media projects. Much of my work explores disability, identity, representation, and the human experience. I have exhibited nationally, completed commissions for private and institutional collections, and created collaborative projects such as *Tres Fridas*, which reimagines familiar works of art through a disability lens.
My path has been very different from the one I originally imagined, but art has remained the constant thread. It has given me a way to adapt, communicate, advocate, and continually rediscover what is possible.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. After my spinal cord injury, I had to adjust to an entirely different way of living while also grieving the life and independence I had known before. Everyday activities suddenly required planning, assistance, and problem-solving. There have been physical challenges, health complications, accessibility barriers, and the ongoing reality of relying on personal care.
Before my injury, I painted with my hands, so learning to paint with my mouth meant basically starting over and teaching myself a completely new way of creating. I had to relearn how to control the brush and develop the strength and endurance to create the kind of work I once was able to create with my hands. It wasn’t easy. It was a long process, and there were many moments of frustration, especially when I wondered whether I could still be able to pursue a career as an artist now that I was disabled.
Some of the greatest obstacles, however, have come from other people’s assumptions about disability. Disabled artists are often viewed through the lens of inspiration rather than taken seriously for the quality and substance of their work. I have had to advocate for access, opportunity, and recognition while continuing to grow creatively and professionally.
My progress has never been a straight line. It has taken persistence, support from others, and a willingness to continually adapt. Connecting with the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists gave me encouragement and a professional pathway, but the journey has still required a great deal of patience and determination. The struggles have shaped my perspective and my art, but they do not define the entirety of who I am or what I create.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a multidisciplinary visual artist and professional mouth painter. I work primarily in oils and acrylics, creating portraits, landscapes, figurative pieces, and more imaginative or surrealistic works. I also enjoy experimenting with photography, digital art, and mixed media. My subjects and style continue to evolve, but at the heart of everything I do is the desire to create beautiful art that connects with people and brings them joy.
I am proud to be recognized as a mouth painter and to share this unique art form with others. Over the years, I have given many workshops and demonstrations for children and adults, showing them how I hold and control a brush with my mouth. I love seeing their curiosity and excitement. These experiences allow me to spread the joy of making art while also bringing greater awareness to mouth painting and artists with disabilities.
My art has taken me to places I never could have imagined. I was invited onto *Katie*, Katie Couric’s talk show, where I painted live and my artwork was celebrated. I also appeared on the *Today* show with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb and presented them with a portrait I had painted. They displayed that painting on their set for nearly ten years, which meant so much to me.
Another unforgettable experience was creating a portrait of Pierce Brosnan as James Bond. He purchased the painting and invited me to personally deliver it to his home in Malibu. Having the opportunity to meet him and see how much he appreciated my work was incredibly special.
I am also proud to be a full member of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists and to have created *Tres Fridas*, a collaborative project that reimagines iconic works of art through the disability experience. Both have allowed me to grow as an artist, connect with others, and bring greater visibility to disability in the arts.
What sets me apart is my story, my technique, and the perspective I bring to my work. I painted with my hands before my injury and then had to teach myself how to paint all over again using my mouth. Mouth painting has become second nature to me, but I am still learning, experimenting, and growing.
What excites me most is the future. I truly believe that my greatest work is still ahead of me and that one day I will create an amazing masterpiece. I would also love to have an inclusive community art space of my own, and that dream is already in the works. More than anything, I want to keep creating beautiful art, sharing the technique of mouth painting, and spreading joy through what I do.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memories are of playing with my two brothers when we were young, back when I could still walk and the three of us were all together. At the time, those moments probably seemed simple and ordinary, but they mean so much more to me now.
I later lost both of my brothers to suicide, and I also lost my mother to cancer. Looking back, I realize how precious that time was, before the losses, before my injury, and before life changed so much. I remember being able to run around and play with my brothers, hearing their laughter, and having my mother nearby. The memory is bittersweet, but it brings me comfort because we were all together, and happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mfpausa.com
