𝔓𝔥𝔬𝔢𝔫𝔦𝔵 ℭ𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔦𝔤𝔯𝔞𝔭𝔥𝔶 𝔐𝔲𝔯𝔞𝔩 𝔄𝔯𝔱𝔦𝔰𝔱

One year ago, before the pandemic came and changed the world. It’s wild to see photos of ourselves with people, on the days leading up to what would soon become a whole new world. I never thought I’d get the opportunity to do a TEDx performance, but miraculously, I was discovered and asked to perform. Life is so fascinating! One day, we’re doing something so liberating. Two weeks later, we’re stripped of our abilities to really do anything. This is why Gratitude is important, and not getting too attached to this world and it’s temporary offerings; good or bad. There is something greater than us that decides when things start, and end. Submitting to that force, and welcoming it’s divine uncertainties frees us from the devastation that could come from losing it all. This TEDx opportunity was so monumental to me, I can’t express how much I appreciated the love and support I received from everyone. That carried me through it, truly. To my friends and family that attended, and the ones that viewed the livestream in and out of state, my gratitude is endless for you all. Like any artist, I could think of many things I wish I had done better, but I can’t expect perfection out of something I terrifyingly and excitingly said yes to. 😂 I had one month to prepare for this... I knew it wasn’t “impossible.” The 5th photo is so special to me. These three women were so amazing to have by my side during this beautifully terrifying experience. So patient, creative, encouraging, and HARD WORKING! This experience was a gift from God, and these ladies were like angels. Had to shout them out for their tremendous help! As for the rest of the big @tedxgrandcanyonuniversity crew, they blew my mind. The atmosphere they created was unreal. I felt an overwhelming amount of love, and just so welcomed. Half of what made this experience so amazing was just being in the presence of you vibrant, hard working, young professionals. May you all have the brightest futures! All praise to the Source of that which comes, and that which goes. ✨

I realize I’ve never made a public post in the last 8 years explaining the meaning of QLM. I think most people already know, but for those who don’t, I made this post for you. I hope it gives you all a deeper understanding of my work and motivations, as well as the power we all hold by simply picking up a pen. Fun Fact: The Arabic word/design in the last few slides was actually a fascinating accident. I love killing time or briefly stepping away from other projects just to practice creating new Arabic hand-styles of names, phrases, and general letters. That’s exactly what I was doing when I wrote this word, “قلم” (Qalam:QLM:Pen). To my surprise, I ended up with a version that ALSO resembles my English initials, “MG”! I never would have even attempted to merge the two, since it seems structurally impossible in my mind(not now, obviously). But it just showed up on its own, with zero effort or intention. Something that probably would’ve taken hours if I had tried to force it. Maybe I’m only geeked about it because I’m a nerd for letters. But if you read Arabic as well, you might find it cool too. Felt fitting to use for this post. Thank you for reading. - Mario Garcia

Breath. 10.24.21 #calligraffiti #calligraphy #muralist #3dart #downtownphoenix #arizonaart

Painted this Phoenix Bird at @pembertonphx alongside 100+ other INCREDIBLE artists based here in AZ! Filled with immense gratitude for being able to add some of my brush work to such a vibrant space! #CampPemberton2025

The last time I got invited to paint at the @arizonastatefair (2021), my little sister was there with us. This photo was taken that night, by my great friend and brother @metamantis . They planned for a photoshoot the same night. Those photos truly uplifted my sisters spirit, she felt so beautiful in them. It was a real gift for him to do that for her, and a gift for us to see her so happy that night. 🙏🏽♥️ We grew up going to the AZ State fair. Sam always loved the fair so much, and she was the only crazy one out of us all that wanted to go on all the insane rides. Sam truly knew how to get the full experience out of the fair. I got the invite to paint at the fair this past August, on my birthday, which was also the last day I talked to my little sister. I didn’t know what I was going to paint at the time, but after losing Sam, it only felt right to do a mini mural of her, doing the iconic “selfie in front of the ferris wheel.” This piece will be displayed at the fair for years to come. My baby sister gets to go to the fair every year now! 🥺😭♥️ It’s been so hard not having her here. It’s been so hard to create art. But my sister would always tell me how proud she was of me, and was just so supportive of my journey. After painting this piece, I will get back to it and come back stronger than ever. If you’re ever at the fair in the future, try and find this piece. And when you find it, please blow her a kiss and wish peace upon her soul. Soar peacefully, baby sister. 🙏🏽♥️ #AZStateFair #BabySister

This piece will be auctioned off by @tribe13gallery , with a 60/40 split between the artist and the Mesa Arts Center to fund programs that encourage and help develop future artists. Gotta do it for the kids! 👐🏽 I was excited to hear that some of the proceeds were going to the Mesa Arts Center. In 2019, I had the opportunity to run a pop-up workshop for @mesaartscenter , funded by @cityofmesa during an event they held for the community. It was my first ever pop up workshop, and I’ll always cherish the memories from it. . . . Done as a performing arts mural, this piece is 8ft x 6ft, on an unstretched canvas. It was painted with a mixture of aerosol paint, acrylic and alcohol based metallic paint. Can be rolled, stretched and shipped.

Last weekend at @gemandjamfestival . Big thank you to @tribe13gallery for the opportunity, and to @ashleymacias_ for rounding up the Phoenix crew to represent for our great state/city/community: Myself, Ashley, @theladyegg @shellshaker @nyla.lee @scenikroots_ @_colorskeems_ @tszaboart You’re all amazing!! 💪🏽✊🏽🙏🏽 There’s much to say about this 3 day festival. It was a nice break from the city, although I couldn’t stop thinking about my wife, and alllll the unfinished artwork I still have to complete. I met so many strangers from all over the country that each left me with something rich. Some gifts, many words of wisdom, and just real genuine connection. I left the festival very humbled and grateful. Getting to connect a little deeper with my fellow artists was one of my highlights of the trip, for sure. It’s nice to know we can all leave the city and still enjoy each other’s company and look out for one another. *LASTLY!!!! The music!!! Electronic, hip hop, Afro beats, EDM, etc… basically, Phoenix needs to step it up a couple notches in our music scene. There’s some serious talent in all our neighboring states(here too, no doubt🙏🏽). So grateful for where we are, but pretty much ALL the artists at this festival were playing REAL instruments within their sets, no matter the genre. So, TO THE PHOENIX hip-hop AND EDM scene… please step it up and stop aiming for the same sound as the others in your communities. Learn an instrument! Or simply just collab with your musician homies to add that HUMAN element to your music. This may be the thing that ACTUALLY makes the artists of those two communities out here stand out. PEOPLE. WILL. LITERALLY. ENJOY. YOUR. MUSIC. MORE. Shoot, YOU might even enjoy your music more. Just saying. 🙏🏽 Much Love! #calligraffiti #gemandjam2023

Completed this piece a few months back. I was given the task of creating a Phoenix bird in my style, with the five pillars of Islam spelled out within it. My client wanted something that represented the location of his business branch(Phoenix), while also incorporating the faith of his business partner overseas who was to receive this painting as a gift. What a privilege, to paint a piece that happens to represents my identity. 🙏🏽✨ #phoenix #calligraphy #islam #phoenixbird #arabiccalligraphy

Had the opportunity to show a very symbolic piece at @modified_arts_phx for the next month. Their show is titled “Endings & Beginnings”, and the piece I chose to show was a Tree of Life, done in my Calligraffiti style, of course. This is my third time painting this powerful symbol, which holds great meaning amongst many cultures all over the world. What does the Tree of Life means to you? Comment below! . . . (Piece available for purchase at @modified_arts_phx ) . . . #calligraffiti #arabiccalligraphy #treeoflife #shajaratalhayat #downtownphoenix

I love this piece so much. Sold to @walterstudiosphx “Dawaran” 36” x 48” Acrylic and Liquid gold leaf on gallery wrapped canvas

A quick piece for a fundraiser event a couple months back. #calligraffiti

The Greatest. . . “Muhammad Ali” 24” x 48” Acrylic on stretched canvas Available for purchase (dm for price) . . . #MuhammadAli #Calligraffiti