We recently had the chance to connect with Holly M. and have shared our conversation below.
Holly, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Who are you learning from right now?
Right now, I’m learning from my trans ancestors. In a moment that feels especially bleak for trans rights, I’m turning to their resilience, creativity, and survival as both guidance and grounding. As an educator, I also look for opportunities to bring forward stories that are too often overlooked or censored, so leaning into this legacy feels both personal and professional.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Holly M. (they/them), an artist and educator passionate about reimagining museums as spaces for healing, connection, and creative invention. I serve as Director of Adult Public Programs at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), where I facilitate performances, workshops, talks, and other public programs that support themes and ideas central to special exhibitions and the permanent collection. What excites me most is collaborating with artists and communities to tell stories that are often overlooked or censored, whether that’s exploring the nightlife legacy of Alexander McQueen, creating space for Indigenous voices, or working with local artists in communities around L.A. County.
Before joining LACMA, I led education programs at ESMoA, where I developed initiatives that centered accessibility, LGBTQ+ creativity, and opportunities for artists across Los Angeles. I’m also the Founder and Artistic Director of The Nomadic Werewolf Museum, a playful project where collaboration and storytelling come together through the lens of werewolves.
Outside of work, I’m a big fan of horror and pop culture podcasts. And sometimes I make collages.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My grandmother always nurtured my creative aspirations—making sure I could take art classes as a child—and she modeled independence, resilience, and inner strength. In a family full of big personalities, she never needed to raise her voice to be heard. Her calm confidence and unwavering support helped me recognize who I was and who I could become.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I used to believe failure was something to avoid, but I’ve come to see it as a first attempt at learning. We often pressure ourselves—especially as young people—to make everything perfect, but starting something new is rarely neat or polished. Sometimes you need to allow yourself to be messy. Giving myself permission to fail, even spectacularly, has been the biggest shift in how I approach growth and learning.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I protect the belief that art is for everyone—always.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the stories people tell about me are so over-the-top that historians question whether I even existed… and that’s exactly the point.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @hollym.crawford
Image Credits
hero image courtesy of Monica Orozco; all other photos credited to Holly M.
