In just three years of art school, Maurielle “MJ” Cooper–chronic illness survivor, inclusivity advocate and Licking Heights alumna–has firmly established herself as a positive force for good and a rising star of artistic talent.

The Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) junior recently signed a licensing deal with JanSport Backpacks as part of their partnership with ArtLifting. ArtLifting is a social enterprise that uplifts artists impacted by chronic illnesses and housing insecurity. Cooper’s work is now featured on a line of JanSport backpacks, including the Adaptive models for those who use mobility devices. 

Cooper also serves on ArtLifting’s Artist Advisory Board, where she offers an artist’s perspective for the company’s future, and sells her original work through the company.

Cooper first knew she wanted to be an artist after regaining her sight following a six-month battle with viral meningitis, which left her temporarily blind. To process the trauma of illness and navigate her new world of managing chronic vestibular migraines, she started painting watercolors of the auras she saw while experiencing pain. 

“All of my work is inspired by my experiences with chronic illness. It changed me as a person, which changed me as an artist,” Cooper says. “It is the lens that I see through. I incorporate the lens of my illness, and my journey with migraines, into my work. It’s like the glasses I wear to see.”

Now a Fine Arts student specializing in painting and ceramics, Cooper credits her art teachers at Licking Heights for inspiring a love of art in her at a young age. She considers herself an advocate for youth mental health and the use of art to build positive processing and coping skills.

“Ms. Mandy Rubino made me realize I loved painting. She talked about Jackson Pollock and it was really impactful for me to learn about that at that age,” she says. “For me, art really is a central part of my life now after illness.” 

Cooper candidly talks about her initial diagnosis with viral meningitis and the process of getting her sight back while in high school. The pain of her own experience, added to grief she was experiencing at the time due to the COVID-19 pandemic and loss in her family, made art a significant emotional outlet for her.

“I painted so much during that time when I wasn’t in pain, and art was a way to distract myself and do something. That process did prepare me for art school, as the repetition helped me get better,” she says. 

The process of turning pain and grief into beauty has bloomed for Cooper–aside from her JanSport deal, she also has shown her work at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, where she won a 2021 VSA Emerging Artist Excellence Award. She has also shown work in international galleries in Milan, Spain and Luxembourg.

Aside from advocating for arts in schools, Cooper is also a tireless advocate for the environment and building a sustainable future. While recovering from meningitis, she took solace in gardening and developed a passion for native plants–earning her the affectionate name “The Lorax” from her friends. Her work is heavily influenced by nature, plants and her garden. At CCAD, she is a leader in the Sustainability Club and works with administrators to build a more sustainable campus–including maintaining a native plant area.

“As an artist, I see my garden as an extension of art. The illness changed my relationship to myself and land,” she says. “My art is reflecting what I see in the backyard. I feel more connected in how I relate to my garden, and this changed what I want to paint and where my angle is.”

Those interested in purchasing original work from Cooper or commissioning her talents may contact her via Instagram @mjckoutureart. Her work is also available for purchase on the ArtLifting website. Purchase her designed backpacks on the JanSport website.