Meet Magdalena O’Connor | Founder of Desireline Studios

We had the good fortune of connecting with Magdalena O’Connor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Magdalena, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Desireline Studios mission is to create beauty through the innovative use of steel and reclaimed materials.

The process of finding beauty in the discarded elements of society is important. There is a positive impact on the physical world by diverting valuable materials from landfills. Perhaps more important is the practice of finding value outside a limited capitalist worldview, this is vital for our survival. I’m passionate about nurturing people’s inner artists through skill sharing and that our most valuable resource is people.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a queer, nonbinary person I never quite fit into any box. I also struggle with the written word, at times reading and writing can feel like an impossible task. In my youth, I thought this meant I was stupid and probably wouldn’t be able to get a good job. As it turns out I’m a multi-talented artist; I have excelled in multiple fields from makeup artistry to steel fabrication and sculpture. My limitations have allowed for exploration and discovery. I love learning new things about the world and myself every day.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When my friends from Boston and New Zealand recently visited, we spent the week doing so many fun things. Some of our activities included riding bikes along The Beltline, checking out artwork, and resisting the urge to climb on the art (mostly). The City of Atlanta has a wealth of free public artwork, mostly sculpture and murals, it’s hard to miss but a lot more fun to discover. We also had picnics and went to breweries in between welding lessons and making art at my workshop.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am constantly learning from fellow artists, students, clients, and even obstacles. However, I would like to especially shout out Mem Burke, the director of the New Zealand Body Art Awards, for her constant support in all my artistic endeavors. Mem you are powerhouse of creativity and a role model for countless artists. Your advice to upcoming artists is always, “You got this”.

Website: Desirelinestudios.com

Instagram: desireline_studios

Facebook: Desireline Studios

Youtube: Queer Welder