Two friends.
Two continents.
One big idea.
Some friendships are built to last. Ana María and María met in kindergarten in Bogotá, Colombia — and nearly twenty years later, they reunited to build something they’d each been working toward all along.
Ana María
María
How it began
Kindergarten in Bogotá.
Reunited by a shared dream.
Ana María and María grew up together in Bogotá, Colombia — two curious little girls who shared classrooms, adventures, and a love for creativity. Life eventually took them in different directions across different continents, with only sporadic contact over nearly two decades.
Then, recently, they reconnected — and quickly realized they had each spent their careers building toward exactly the same thing: giving children the tools to look at art deeply, and to make something of their own.
The Mira Mira Project was born from that reunion.
Meet the makers
An archaeologist and an illustrator — one who knows museums inside out, one who knows how to make children fall in love with creativity.
Ana María Rocha-Goldberg
Archaeologist · Cultural Heritage Specialist
Ana María has spent her career where art, history, and people meet. As Executive Assistant to the Director of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C., she fell in love with the power of portraiture and the stories it tells.
With a Master’s degree from Boston University and a background in anthropology, archaeology, and museology, she is committed to making culture and heritage meaningful and accessible to everyone. She is also the founder of Carambolo, a project that partners with Colombian indigenous communities, artisans, and artists to keep their cultural heritage alive through the things they make.
That same belief — that every child deserves the tools to look at art deeply and walk away with something of their own — is what brought Mira Mira to life. There, she channels that vision into the stories and concepts that shape every kit.
María Motta
Illustrator · Founder of Twibbles
María is a Colombian illustrator whose work has always lived at the intersection of art, childhood, and community. She holds an MFA in Illustration from the Academy of Art University, and her practice spans editorial, cultural, and commercial work including commissioned projects for organizations such as HOPE (Hispanas Organized for Political Equality) and the Pan American Development Foundation, alongside a broad freelance practice serving private and corporate clients.
She is the founder of Twibbles, a gender-neutral children’s creative brand where every illustrated design is also a story and every product is a tool for imaginative play. María illustrates every piece of The Mira Mira Project by hand, bringing the same warmth, color, and storytelling that is at the heart of her work.
Why portraiture?
Portraits are the original selfies. Human beings have always wanted to capture who someone is, tell their story, and leave a mark. We chose portraiture as the starting point for the Mira Mira kit because it is universal, accessible, and endlessly rich.
Every child is naturally curious. The kit teaches them to look deeper, discover the story behind the person, and create a portrait of their own.
In our own words
Our dream is to provide a tool that opens up a space for kids to fuel their creativity and stay curious as they journey through the world. We want every child to feel joy while learning, and we hope this kit brings them exactly that. Our own children are our greatest inspiration, and this project is our love letter to them.
— Ana María & María
Ready to explore together?
Give a child the tools to look closely, think deeply, and create something truly their own.
Get the Mira Mira kit →