Hola! I am Mara Nicole Criollo-Rivera, a Puerto Rican & Peruvian illustrator, author, & arts educator dedicated to advancing cultural representation through storytelling. My work explores themes of identity, emotion, & community, fostering meaningful connections between art & shared human experiences.

I earned a B.A. in Digital Media with a minor in Business from the University of Rochester, & completed international studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore & Santa Reparata International School of Art in Florence, Italy. I recently received my post-baccalaureate certificate in Studio Arts from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University & am currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching in Arts Education at Tufts University.

Outside of academia, I am the illustrator of the bilingual children’s picture book Dos Two. I serve as a Community Arts Initiative Liaison at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, & as a contracted summer arts instructor at River Arts in Vermont. I also lead bilingual storytimes at the Boston Public Library (Roslindale Branch) & the Boston Athenæum.

My leadership & advocacy in children’s literature have been recognized by the Obama Foundation through the 2023–2025 Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship. At the core of my practice is a commitment to dialogue, understanding, & cultural exchange.