Meet Mia Dentoni

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mia Dentoni. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mia, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

In retrospect, my purpose was always there—I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t making art, chasing the thrill of creating, that next-level zing in my veins. So for me, the challenge wasn’t discovering my purpose; it was choosing to pursue it in a world where being an artist doesn’t always align with traditional ideas of income, stability, or career success. Even though I studied art in college, I never truly considered it a viable career path. Still, I never stopped creating.

As I encountered bigger life challenges, my art began to deepen. Maybe age played a role too, but at some point, I realized that the excuses holding me back were mostly rooted in fear-based decisions. I found confidence not by avoiding obstacles, but by moving through them—by sitting with discomfort rather than trying to fix or smooth over. Of course, it’s been progress, not perfection. I certainly don’t want to mislead anyone into thinking this was a snap. That said, with this shift came a turning point—in my life, in my pursuit of art, and in the work itself.

I began to notice how the space I was in—whether marked by intense challenge or calm—reverberated through every part of life. Crushing losses, moments of triumph, and the uneasy “what’s next” that follows—all of it began to feed my work. I became curious about how we see the world as it contracts and expands. Looking back, I realized that much of my work has always been about our environments—both physical and emotional.

And so, in my 40s, I returned to showing my work—this time with a deeper sense of purpose.

Even if it didn’t always feel clear, my purpose was there all along. The real journey was learning how to live it—and ultimately realizing that the journey itself has been one of my greatest sources of inspiration.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m an artist based in the Washington, DC area. I grew up in the Bay Area and have lived and studied in Portland (OR), Manhattan, and abroad in East Africa. I’ve received grants to return to Uganda and Kenya to continue photography work I began there. My work has been exhibited, published, and recognized with grants and awards.

My practice explores the layered phases of life and the environments we move through—experiences that feel both deeply personal and universally shared. It draws on my background in travel and cultural exchange, my experiences with motherhood and parenting, and now, the evolving perspective that comes with aging.

Through themes that range from boredom to wonder, isolation to connection, and stress to calm, I reflect on the complexity of the female path. Using humor, contrast, and curiosity, I examine how relationships shape us and how we navigate identity and change. Recently, I’ve been especially focused on how life—and our inner and outer worlds—expand and contract, both during periods of intensity and quiet, expressed through abstract and more recognizable forms.

Current Exhibition:
Public Art Installation
5510 Wisconsin Ave, Chevy Chase, MD (across from Saks)
Open 24/7
On view through June 13

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Connection – Time – Love and Gratitude

Connection. Whether it’s with teachers, old friends, new friends, or neighbors—connection brings spice, laughter, and perspective when we need it most. Listening to others, learning new tools and ways of thinking—there’s nothing better. All forms of connection nourish the soul.

Time. Learning when you work best is a game changer. Prioritizing your creative time as seriously as anything else in your life is essential. I’m also a big believer in to-do lists. A finished project can feel monumental, but it’s built from small steps—and every step counts. Maybe today, you just read an article and found a helpful idea. Check! That’s progress, and I find that kind of encouragement really motivating.

Love and Gratitude. One of the most transformative shifts I’ve made is learning to quiet negative self-talk. It hasn’t been easy, and it’s been a long journey, but retraining that inner voice has made a real difference. Gratitude grounds me. It brings clarity, keeps me open, and connects me to what really matters.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

There’s a great book called Art and Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland that beautifully captures what so many of us experience in the process of making art—especially in the early stages. One part that really stuck with me was about an author who, when asked how he wrote his book, simply said it flowed through him. I’ve never felt so heard. That’s exactly how making art can feel—like a kind of alchemy. It moves through you, often unexpectedly. The books I also a reminder to keep showing up, to keep on keeping on.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://miadentoni.com
• Instagram: @miadentoni_art
• Other: I can also be reached by email at [email protected]