MARIA CONEJO

ARTIST & ILLUSTRATOR

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

Meet Maria Conejo! Maria is not only a super talented Mexican artist and illustrator, but she's also the founder of @pwordpedia - a free, bilingual, inclusive, illustrated encyclopedia about the female reproductive system designed for women to better understand: menstruation, menopause, reproduction, sex & more. @fastcompany has called it "the women’s health resource you’ve been missing your whole life" 🙌🏽 And as if Maria didn't have enough to do...she's also the creative mind behind our new CDMX tote design!

Follow Maria here.

1. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE ART AND ILLUSTRATION AS A CAREER? HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN AN ARTIST?

I have always painted and drawn as a way to express myself, since I was a child it has been a very important part of my life. I have always believed that art helps to create empathy between humans. I think thats the reason why I make art, I’m sharing my human experience and I put my thoughts and feelings out there. As a way of telling others around me, hey you are not alone, I feel the same way. I believe in the power of art to help make the world a better place.

2. WHAT HAS BEEN A PROJECT OR INSTALLATION THAT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF?

I had the opportunity to showcase my work in a solo show at the Mexican Pavilion in SWAB Art Fair in Barcelona last year, and I feel very proud of it. It was the first time I had a solo show in Spain. I was able to show some paintings and concepts I’ve been working in the last years, it was very exciting. And of course, I’m very proud of Pussypedia, a sex ed. project I created with my girlfriend, the journalist Zoe Mendelson.

3. WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND PUSSYPEDIA?

The reason why we created Pussypedia was the lack of information about our pussies due to the taboo and stigma that still exists around our bodies and sexuality in our society nowadays.

We created a free, online, bilingual and inclusive of gender and organs–encyclopedia of the pussy to make high quality information about our bodies more accessible on the internet.

We believe that shame is very dangerous and it is also a form of oppression, we want to give people with pussies their power back through knowledge!

4. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A YOUNG WOMAN STRUGGLING TO FOLLOW HER PASSION?

Perseverance, patience and discipline are key to pursuing your passions. Following your heart and intuition will always take you to the right place.

5. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE TOMORROW, WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHO WOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU?

To Paris, and I would take my mom with me. <3

6. IF YOU COULD HAVE COFFEE WITH ANYONE IN THE UNIVERSE, WHO WOULD IT BE (AND WHAT WOULD YOU ORDER!)?

This one is very hard, there’s a lot of people in the universe I would love to have coffee with, but I would say Audre Lorde and I would order a quiche and a latte if it’s breakfast time, and maybe some mimosas after that. <3