Hola! I am Mara Nicole Criollo-Rivera —an illustrator & youth educator passionate about storytelling that celebrates cultural pride & joyful self-expression. My creative practice spans illustration, creative writing, & short-form animated graphics, all rooted in a mission to uplift underrepresented voices, especially within Latino communities.

I hold a B.A. in Digital Media with a minor in Business from the University of Rochester & am pursuing a post-baccalaureate certificate in Studio Arts at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, with a focus on illustration. I am the illustrator/editor of Dos Two, a bilingual children’s picture book celebrating Puerto Rican identity, currently available at Hipocampo Children’s Books.

Currently, I serve as a Community Arts Initiative Liaison at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, partnered with Sociedad Latina. In this role, I continue my passion for youth art education by helping young people connect with the MFA’s collections, discover the art-making process, & embrace art as a meaningful part of their lives.

I have been honored as a 2023–2025 Obama-Chesky Scholar for Public Service & a 2022–2023 fellow of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE), & was selected as a Peter Roth Intern at the Paley Center for Media, where I focused on advancing diversity in children’s media.

Whether I am illustrating a story, leading a workshop, or building inclusive visual narratives, I strive to create art that inspires connection & reflects the vibrant communities I come from & serve.