We recently connected with Maia Sylba and have shared our conversation below.
Maia, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Creativity, for me, has never been something I chase, it is something I live with. For the past fifteen years, through my magazine Musetouch, I’ve been immersed daily in an endless dialogue with artists around the world. That exchange of emotions, images, and visions has kept my creativity not only alive, but constantly renewed.
I also keep creating in deeply personal ways. My upcoming book ‘Be Art’, to be released on October 1st, was born from a need to capture life as art itself…something both fragile and eternal. It is also a philosophy of living as art, a reminder that every choice, gesture, and moment can become creation. I am preparing both a standard edition, accessible to everyone, and a luxury edition, created for those who wish to hold something truly unique in their hands. The luxury edition is not only about its exclusive design, it is conceived as a piece of art in itself, carrying the belief that beauty and depth can still be lived and shared, even in challenging times.
Collaboration also fuels me. At the moment, I am working with Luc Martineau, an extraordinary artist with a unique creative vision, on ‘The Soul of Ballet’ book. This project blends imagery, movement, and narrative into a work that reminds me how limitless creativity truly is when different worlds meet.
In short, I keep my creativity alive by living it every day, by honoring what moves me, and by never separating art from life itself.
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 am the founder and editor of Musetouch Visual Arts Magazine, a platform I created 15 years ago with the vision of bringing together artists and audiences in a timeless space where art and emotion meet. Over the years, Musetouch has become more than a magazine…it is a living archive of creativity, featuring interviews, curated works, and stories that continue to inspire readers across the globe. What excites me most is that after all this time, Musetouch is still a place where art feels alive, personal, and deeply human.
Beyond the magazine, I am focused on expanding my artistic voice through books and new projects. ‘Be Art’ is not only my upcoming book, to be released on October 1st, it is also a lifestyle brand built on a philosophy of living as art. It carries the idea that life, in all its fragility and beauty, can be embraced as a form of creation. The book itself will appear in both a standard and a luxury edition, the latter conceived as a piece of art in itself, for those who wish to hold something truly unique in their hands.
I am also collaborating with Luc Martineau, an extraordinary artist with his own distinct body of work, on a book titled The Soul of Ballet. This project is especially close to me because it blends visual storytelling, movement, and poetry into one narrative, a reminder that art is boundless when different visions come together.
Looking ahead, my focus is to continue growing ‘Be Art’ into a lifestyle brand, while nurturing Musetouch as a home for artists worldwide. For me, the greatest achievement is not only creating, but giving others a space where their creativity can be seen, respected, and celebrated.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three qualities that have shaped my journey the most are resilience, vision, and sincerity.
Resilience, because life has not always been easy, and yet every challenge taught me to stand taller and keep creating. Vision, because from the very beginning I saw Musetouch not simply as a magazine but as a timeless space where artists and audiences could connect. That vision carried me through 15 years of building something lasting. And sincerity, because I have always believed that the most powerful creations come from honesty, when you share what you truly feel, you also create a bridge to others.
For those who are just starting their journey, my advice is simple: follow your feelings. They will always lead you to the right place. Skills and knowledge can be learned along the way, but the voice of your own heart is what keeps you authentic and gives meaning to everything you do. In the end, it is about embracing life itself as art – fragile, resilient, and endlessly creative.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
The person who has shaped me most profoundly is my mother. She is a true fighter, and from her I learned strength, perseverance, and the unshakable belief that nothing in life is impossible.
I must also mention my brother Dejan, who is an extraordinary designer and programmer. Without him, Musetouch would never have come into existence. His creativity, technical mastery, and support have been essential, and I feel fortunate to share this mission with him.
I have also been deeply influenced by the artists I have encountered throughout these years. In them, I recognized myself, my own vulnerability, hypersensitivity, and deep sense for beauty and humanity. From their works and their courage, I have learned as much as from any personal experience.
My friends have also been an essential part of this journey, especially Luc Martineau and Nicole Romine, whose support and understanding have carried me through many turning points.
And of course, my audience, my friends, as I call them, who have remained with me through fifteen years of challenges and joys alike. Their presence reminds me that art is not created in solitude, but in communion, in shared emotion.
To all of them, I owe my deepest gratitude. They are part of the philosophy I live by: a philosophy of living as art- fragile, resilient, and profoundly human.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://musetouch.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MusetouchVisualArtsMagazine
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maiasylba/
Image Credits
Photos by Agnieszka Lorek, Luc Martineau, Francoise Weeks, Soledad Fernandez, Dejan Silbaski
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