Maryann Gibbons: Artypants Magazine

Maryann Gibbons is a Marketing Director, mother, and Founder and Editorial Director of Artypants Magazine, an independent print publication amplifying New England creatives. With a strategic sensibility and a strong commitment to creative wellness, her work lives at the intersection of structure and artistic exploration. She draws ongoing inspiration from her 50-year-old 35mm camera, long walks outdoors, time in her studio, and adventures with her family.

photo:Amy Reichenbach

I know what it’s like to start something from an idea and to be unsure of the surest thing you know. 

Creators need supporters in their corner, or they will suppress their innate talents. In a divisive society, art is a universal language that moves us and connects us. 

I consider myself like a bay leaf. A bay leaf's role is to support and amplify the flavor, not to overtake. As a curator and editorial director, I use my aesthetic intelligence to showcase creative humans through print, design, and storytelling, ultimately bringing more attention to artists in our own community. 

Making a magazine was always something I fantasized about. With Artypants, I get to combine my skills and interests, using my own creativity to foster that of others.

To date, we have featured over 100 artists in the publication, whether through visual artwork, interviews, written work, or collaboration. Artypants exists to amplify creatives through good design and put their work artfully on a page. It is a powerful form of validation that is slowly disappearing.

Print magazines are more than nostalgic. They foster analog connection. Through this work, I’ve had the privilege of meeting more artists in real life and gaining a deeper understanding of why, how, and what they create.

Along the way, I’ve also hosted events that mobilize artists to connect, from speed networking to Exhibitions that put work on the walls and bring people together.

I help ignite a niche cohort of people curious to explore art as both consumers and creators. I aim to dismantle doubt by supporting creators as they step into their purpose. 

Maybe it’s the era I’m stepping into, but I’m seeing so many brilliant shows and exhibitions being put together, and people prioritizing supporting artists. I see resource swapping, collaboration, and coming together. Some artists worry that what they do is frivolous in a time of unrest. Art is part of coming together, shifting collective energy, and living in pursuit of purpose. In all revolutions, art has been a vital ingredient.