ABOUT.
I'm a Nigerian American child of immigrants -- born on the east coast, raised in Ohio, and currently residing in the heart of Chicago. I've always experienced the beauty of the world through a creative lens. During the most difficult season of my life, I was completing my PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Houston. At that time, the beauty was harder to find. A city lover and midwest girl, I looked forward to every opportunity I got to visit my oldest brother in Chicago during those years. We'd walk 10 miles around the city, and not get tired. I was enamored by the architecture and comforted by the tall buildings and crowded streets. I'd take pictures everywhere I went, but my iPhone 5 wasn't cutting it. In 2016, I bought my first DLSR camera to better capture the city's beauty.
MARY O. | C R E A T I V E began as an attempt to chronicle my love for the city of Chicago.
Despite intentions, my creative pursuits took a backseat during my doctoral journey. I was unable to find the time and creative energy while also serving marginalized communities as a therapist, researcher, and professor. While all of these efforts were valuable in their own right, the challenges associated with serving within a fractured system as a member of marginalized groups myself, proved unsustainable for me.
Photo credit: Michelle the Maker
Upon graduating as a psychologist in the midst of a mental health crisis (shoutout Class of 2020!), I made a very intentional choice to advocate for my own happiness -- and dove head first into the digital health & wellness space. My current role in clinical product design allows me to apply my degree in an innovative way, and also affords me renewed energy and motivation to revive my earlier passions for creating, and sharing that passion with others.
I’ve revived my creative brand to showcase the beauty of cultures across the African diaspora through visual art, photography, creative writing, and even modeling. A self-described generalist, my company name MARY O. | C R E A T I V E is intentionally broad to reflect the wide array of creative pursuits I choose to develop, refine, and share over time. Long-term, I aim to integrate my clinical expertise with my creative talents to share powerful stories, raise awareness, and interrupt stigma related to mental health in marginalized cultural groups.