Maria Mandle
Owner + Designer
Maria grew up on Orcas Island, WA, where the beauty of the Pacific Northwest deepened her relationship with nature as a source of creative inspiration. This passion inspired Maria to pursue and earn a degree in Fine Art & Art History from Bowdoin College, ME, where she was encouraged to “count Nature as a familiar acquaintance and Art an intimate friend.”
Today, Maria carries these values into her work as a graphic artist, drawing inspiration from time spent outdoors with family and friends. Maria resides in Washington DC with her husband, two sons and Coco the Australian Shepherd.
Why Chica Creative?
Chica Creative is a playful homage to Maria’s Mexican heritage. Guided by her abuelo, Noah Espinoza, she was exposed from an early age to the vibrancy of Mexican street life, folk art, and the swirling movement of Ballet Folklórico. In college, her passion to connect with her roots and the arts deepened—earning her a grant to study in Mexico City, where she explored pre-Hispanic and native art themes, the sacred geometry of ancient Aztec motifs, and the revolutionary storytelling of muralists like Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco.
To this day, these roots continue to influence her own work. Pattern, texture, and bold color infuse her art, shaping not only her creative expression but also her approach to branding, identity, and visual storytelling.