Heart to Heart | Painting with Roots & Resilience with Maria Fernanda Vogel

About this episode

Cristy M. Diaz interviews artist Maria Fernanda Vogel about her artistic journey and the cultural significance of her work.

What does it mean to create art that carries culture, memory & celebration all at once? In this first fully bilingual episode of Heart to Heart, I sit down with acclaimed artist Maria Fernanda Vogel, recently named Artist of the Year for the @kiwaniscluboflittlehavana Carnaval Miami 2026. Known for her vibrant, expressive work that blends Latin heritage with contemporary design, Maria Fernanda shares the story behind her artistic journey & the inspiration that fuels her creations. We talk about the role of art in community as well as the cultural heartbeat of Carnaval Miami & how creativity becomes a bridge between tradition & modern expression. From the meaning behind her work to the responsibility of representing such an iconic celebration, Maria Fernanda reflects on how art can honor where we come from while inviting others into the story. This conversation is about more than art. It’s about identity, heritage, and the beauty of creating with heart.

People in this episode

Host: Cristy M. Diaz

Guest: Maria Fernanda Vogel

Topics covered

• art
• culture
• identity
• heritage
• community
• creativity

Keywords

• art
• culture
• identity
• heritage
• Carnaval Miami
• creativity
• community

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: kiwaniscluboflittlehavana

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