Marisa LaGuardia is a Youngstown, Ohio native who works in many medias. She obtained a BFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore, MD and an MFA from the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, TX. During her last year in graduate school, she began incorporating ceramics, sculpture, and installation alongside 2D techniques such as painting, drawing and printmaking. She describes her current practice as interdisciplinary, as she is interested combining multiple elements to tell a richer, more nuanced story. At the core, her practice investigates how individual perception influences our view of reality. She is interested in moments of synchronicity and blurring the line between tangible and intangible phenomena. She teaches visual art at SMARTS. LaGuardia’s teaching focus seeks to invoke a playful curiosity in her students. By interweaving modalities, techniques and media, she strives to make connections between seemingly unrelated approaches. Her project assignments serve as an “open lattice” that provides just enough structure for the students to impart their own unique perspective. Her time working as a Guide at Glenstone Museum in Potomac, MD, a Museum Education Intern at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), and as a college professor gave her insights on the many approaches to teaching and learning. LaGuardia believes all people have an innate creative capacity, and is dedicated to providing a supportive environment to cultivate personal expression.