How I Got Here: Melbourne-based contemporary artist Marisa Mu on taking the leap

“I have shifted my lens from ‘I am not good enough’ to ‘the right opportunity is coming for me’.”

Have you ever stalked someone on LinkedIn and wondered how on earth they managed to land that job? While the internet and social media might have us believe our ideal role is a mere pipe dream, the people who have these jobs were, believe it or not, in the same position once, fantasising over someone else’s seemingly unattainable job.

But behind the impressive titles and fancy work events lies a tonne of hard work. So what lessons have been learnt and what skills have proved invaluable in getting them from daydreaming about success, to being at the top of their industry?

Hi Marisa! Tell us a little about who you are and what you do.

I’m a contemporary fine artist, sculptor and poet.

Take us back to when you were first starting out. Did you study to get into your chosen field or start as a junior and climb the ladder?

I’ve been a full-time artist for seven years now. I made the jump and committed when I was 27 – I’d safely say that was my Saturn’s Return. I always wanted to be an artist since I was in preschool and loved watching my mother paint. She was a self-taught oil painter but sadly passed away when I was 19 and so my love for art paused for the first half of my twenties.

I was grieving the loss of my muse and the light of my life and I was debilitated by the narrative that there wasn’t any point in me trying because I would just disappoint her. I understand this to be untrue now, but it dictated a lot of my life when I was trying to figure out my shit.

 

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I ended up studying for a degree in design at the College of Fine Arts, graduating in 2014. I majored in textiles and jewellery as I loved fashion and thought I would try my hand at becoming a fashion designer, but fate had me interning in my final year at Josh Goot and it was an incredibly insightful experience, to say the least. It made me realise my values didn’t align with the Australian rag trade at the time and my focus turned towards print design and leather goods.

After graduating, I opened my own studio producing artisanal leather goods whilst working full-time in retail management. A lot of people don’t know this part of my life, but I was consistently breaking even for the five years I had the studio, and it was a hard slog – long hours alone sewing and hammering in the studio after working 40-hour weeks in retail. I knew within myself I wanted to be ‘somebody’ and that burning desire has never faded.

 

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My friend offered me a show at a gallery he ran and so I took that opportunity to do a major campaign launch for my studio and challenged myself to finally pick up the brush again and paint. I recall my mum’s voice speaking through me, it was two weeks out from the show and she said ‘Marisa, today is the day you try’.

I was shaking as I got out her old paints and found myself suddenly painting liberated naked figures dancing along the canvas. I burst out crying and laughing at the same time because the cathartic release was overwhelming. I realised at that moment it wasn’t about what I was painting but the fact that I was painting was what mattered.

All the paintings I made for the show sold and I just sat in this surreal space of love and gratitude to my mum for bringing me back to my true calling – to be an artist. I consolidated my design studio and quit my retail management gig a year later. I haven’t looked back.

 

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What challenges have you faced getting to where you are now? 

I have faced a multitude of challenges, from being a token for exhibitions and panel talks to valuing my work and battling imposter syndrome. Working for yourself is no easy feat, especially when you know you want to take it as far as you can. You ask yourself hard questions about being complicit or speaking your truth – especially being a queer woman of colour, whose parents were refugees, even grappling with belonging and finding your community can be a challenge.

Being an artist can be incredibly isolating, so I would say having a strong support network is paramount. Finding your community is fundamental – we need a sense of belonging as much as we need water and food. I decided after my first year of being a full-time artist to relocate to Naarm from Gadigal.

I was getting opportunities and being seen in Naarm more than I did in my hometown and that spoke volumes – moving here was the best decision I ever made because I found my people, I found my chosen family and they have consistently shown me the importance of cultivating safe and brave spaces for story-telling and the arts.

 

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What do you want people to know about your industry and role? 

The industry is political and elitist. I have learnt if you want a seat at the table, you must make your own. It’s not an easy road, but I owe my life to art and I have seen firsthand the positive impact my art has had on people and that fuels me to keep going.

What’s the best part about your role?

Being my own boss, living life on my own terms. Understanding that despite how hard and isolating things can get. I know I can die happy because I am honouring my lineage, my story and my truth by being an artist.

 

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What would surprise people about your role?

I think people would be surprised at how expensive it is to do exhibitions and show your work as an artist. Art Fairs and exhibitions usually have overheads starting from 10k and that puts a lot of pressure on me to convert that into a feasible and sustainable means to live. I think there is this glorification or fantasy trope about artists living this unrealistic lifestyle and the reality is, you must be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

You must trust in yourself so much that you understand you will see rewards birth from your hard work, even if it looks like doing 16-hour days in the studio painting and not earning a cent. I have trusted deeply in the process of creating art and understand the universe is listening and watching me as I put my good intentions and love into my work. I am eternally grateful for the people who have resonated with my art and are proud collectors and fans. It is incredibly affirming and I wouldn’t be here without my global community.

 

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What skills have served you well in your industry?

The funny thing is, as much as working in retail management drained me in a lot of ways and was a means to an end, it gave me the interpersonal skills that I harness now when in public spaces and networking with others. I am not afraid to stand tall next to my work and talk openly about hard topics. It also gave me insight into how to run a successful business and channel those learnings into my own practice and projects I’m passionate about.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be in a role like yours one day?

Create for yourself. Allow that flow state to take over and guide you in your practice. Negative thoughts and insecurities never really go away but it’s how you manage them that will make all the difference. You must remind yourself your creative voice deserves to be seen and shared and your art is sacred. It’s a channel for self-expression and story-telling and that is worth doing.

 

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Another piece of advice would also be if you really wanted something for yourself, you need to talk about it, write about it and manifest it. It will start organically and intrinsically translate through your actions and you will get there. No one got to where they wanted to without hard work and being brave.

What about a practical tip?

Research open calls for exhibitions, artist residencies and awards. Put yourself out there in ways that make you feel uncomfortable. The right opportunity will come to you, but you must put in the effort and time to let the universe know that you want to take your art seriously.

I’ve stopped taking things personally when it comes to rejection from applying for opportunities – it just runs off me like water off a duck’s back. I have shifted my lens from ‘I am not good enough’ to ‘the right opportunity is coming for me. This one just wasn’t right for me right now. But greatness is coming’.

Keep up with Marisa here.