About Maya
Born in 1995 and raised in West Philadelphia, Maya has been an artist for as long as she can remember. Art has always been a part of her life, serving as an outlet for self-expression, healing, and processing life's experiences. Through her creativity, she finds ways to release trauma, explore her emotions, and turn personal experiences into meaningful expressions of herself.
For the past nine years, Maya has shared her love of art as an educator. She currently teaches K–8 art in the School District of Philadelphia, where she encourages young artists to embrace their individuality, experiment, and find their own creative voices.
At 30, Maya entered a new chapter of self-discovery, embracing her identity and coming out as a lesbian. Learning to live more authentically has become an important part of her personal journey and continues to influence how she sees herself and the world around her.
As both an artist and educator, Maya believes art is more than what you create; it's about who you are, what you've experienced, and the freedom to express it. Her journey continues to be one of growth, healing, self-discovery, and finding beauty in being unapologetically herself.
Artist’s Statement
My name is Maya Culbertson, and I am a West Philadelphia-born and raised artist. My work is deeply personal, rooted in my experiences as a woman, my identity as a lesbian, and my ongoing journey of self-discovery, healing, and self-acceptance.
Coming out as a lesbian at 30 shifted the way I see myself, my body, and womanhood. This transformation has become a major influence in my artistic practice. Through mixed-media collage and painting, I explore sexuality, queer identity, femininity, and the female form.
My work often focuses on breasts, vaginas, and other parts of the body that have historically been sexualized, censored, or considered taboo. I use these images to reclaim the female body as something that belongs to women themselves, rather than something defined by the pleasure or judgment of others. Through my perspective as a lesbian, I aim to challenge the traditional male gaze and celebrate the beauty, complexity, and individuality of women.
For me, creating art is an act of self-expression, healing, and liberation. It allows me to process experiences, release trauma, challenge shame, and embrace parts of myself that I am still discovering. My work is both a feminist statement and a personal journey toward freedom, acceptance, and unapologetic self-love. I hope to create space for other women to see themselves, celebrate their bodies, and feel empowered to exist exactly as they are.