Mariam Fatima Paré loved to paint ever since she was a child. This passion of hers continued through her teenage years and she even joined an art school. But her dreams of becoming a professional artist took a hit when she became a victim of a gun shooting incident.
In 1996, at the age of 20, she was caught in a crossfire and a bullet pierced the back of her neck leaving her paralyzed. Mariam recalls watching her hands drop lifelessly—she was unable to move them. Tragically, the gunshot wound had resulted in a spinal cord injury which left her quadriplegic for the rest of her life.
After years of rehabilitation, Mariam Fatima learnt to use the wheelchair. A therapist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago also taught her how to use a pencil with her mouth. Mariam soon thought herself to paint holding a paintbrush like a pencil. With hard work and perseverance, she developed her skills as a mouth painter.
In 2003, Mariam began pursuing a degree in Fine Art, an Associates Degree in Graphic Design and a certificate in Web Design. In 2006, she was accepted as a member of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA)—an exclusive and esteemed association of artists who paint professionally by either using their mouth or feet.
Mariam licences her works of art for greeting cards, calendars and other products. She is also actively involved in humanitarian causes, including providing art education to the less fortunate and promoting art therapy.
