Today we’d like to introduce you to Malory S. Grillo.
Hi Malory, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started doing theater when I as 18, but the Performance Arts always caught my eye since very little, I remember joining the Puppets Club at 12 in High School then moving to the Contemporary Dance Club until I decided to study Theatrical Arts, the Journey has been long and constantly changing, that’s why I am so eternally grateful with the Arts, they always have space for you to try something new.
From my Bachelor’s Degree as an Actor and Director, to the Playwriting world to finally land as an MFA Costume Designer, Art Director, Educator-Visual Artist that is exactly how I introduce myself in these days, Theatre has always have a door open for me and has land me to explore more of my aesthetic and language in every work I take.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh I just said it, not smooth at all, constantly changing!
First Struggle was to studied Arts in Latin America, trust me my parents where scared at first, now they support me no mater what.
The constant extra work we have to do to prove ourselves we are in the space where we want to be and how we want to be is something that I constantly struggle, I feel like I am my own enemy when it comes to make everything GREAT and GREATER-PERFECT each time, teaching has guide me to let go and enjoy the journey more than the results.
Another big struggle was to admit myself when it was time to change, like when I decided to quit acting to become more of a designer/writer, admit that maybe those auditions weren’t for me but writing the script was calling my name.
I can keep number them but I think is more fun just to know, there are always struggles NO road is easy or perfect.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love everything about my current work as a visual artist/Professor, I just love that I get paid to play with colors-shapes and teach young minds to also play and explore, life has been amazing with me in that aspect, I just feel so grateful that I can express myself everyday with my art.
I am a Costume Designer mostly that is always looking to make the world a better place attacking the OVERCONSUMPTION, I try my best to create pieces that do not require of Fast Fashion or the need to purchase more than need it, it is hard, Theatre is a one time use space, so I focused mainly in re-suing, re-purposing and mostly defying the creativity of things that already exist.
I am most proud of me who 5 years ago barely could sew and Now I work full time sewing, dyeing, painting, and recently learned how to drive, I am so proud of taking me myself from Costa Rica to Massachusetts for my Master’s in Fine Arts.
And Finally, what set me apart from others? I don’t like to compare my Art with anybody’s, we are all magic creatures that are expressing through Art that set us apart from the world.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Uff, Patience, always be patient, the road it is sometimes very very slow, I cannot number the amount of times I thought I was going to quit because I didn’t see results right away and then Boom! All the results came, also be patient with yourself, you are living for the first time on Earth, we are all learning this.
Second always try to find a positive thing about this line of work, anything, time, food, travel, friends, just one thing and focused on that, sometimes it is very easy to overlook the positive things and we only focused in the hardship, I recently took a job that was 3 hours from home and I drove back and forth everyday, I focused on the animals on the road and my days were easier, one positive thing made me wake up everyday to go to that production.
And lastly, You do not have to prove to anybody anything, Do this for you and mostly your loved ones, If you want to become successful for fame and approval this isn’t the job for you, success only comes from within ourselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://maloriegrillo.com
- Instagram: malorie_cricket
- Facebook: Malorie Grillo
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maloriegrillo/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@maloriegrillo
