The MC Muse series features experienced women from around the world sharing their styles, ambitions, and the most desirable items to buy right now.

Lindsey Adams has lived with cerebral palsy for 30 years, a movement disorder that affects speech, movement, and balance. Adams explains, "People with disabilities are often left out of the conversation." I think there is an unfortunate stigma and monolithic nature associated with living with (a disability)." Art can be a liberating place. A naturally gifted artist, Adams began drawing around age 4, and by age 14 he was painting in oils. It was, she says, "my own form of communication, my peace, my protest."

After earning a triple master's in international studies, world politics, and Spanish, with a minor in studio art from the University of Richmond, she felt social pressure to follow a traditional career; in D.C., Adams began working as a marketing strategist. However, her lifelong hobby of drawing and painting became a stronghold as she experienced changes in both life and work, and as the political and social challenges of 2020 became apparent, transforming her art from a part-time craft to a platform for marginalized communities became Adams' goal.

"When I first started talking about the space I occupied, I was scared and didn't know if it was my place to speak out or how I would be perceived," she explains. But over time, the D.C.-based artist and advocate found herself leading the discussion around disability and inclusivity. She says, "Living at the intersection of being a black woman and being disabled, I have this unique perspective."

Adam's portfolio of work is layered with movement, vibrant color, and textured brushwork. Her subjects range from portraits to flowers to the female form, with a primary focus on embracing personal space and identity. She says, "There are so many imperfections in my humanity. There are many imperfections in my humanity. I have come to understand that I am a voice, an expressionist, a decision-maker, a storyteller."

She has also been a member of the "I Am" group, a group of women who have been working in the field of music and dance for over a decade, and who are now working in the field of music.

She is currently featured along with 12 other artists in "Varsity Blues" at the Allouche Gallery in New York City. The exhibition touches on the racial, social, and socioeconomic inequities that exist in the American higher education system, made more apparent by the 2019 college admissions scandal. We sat down with the artist to hear about her sources of inspiration, her use of fashion as an extension of art, and how she balances her full-time marketing career with her art and advocacy work.

Marie Claire: When do you make time to paint?

Lindsay Adams: Yes, I do. I have to find the right time. I paint early in the morning and in the evening. I also spend weekends painting and researching, and for the "Varsity Blues" exhibition, I read a lot of books and listened to lectures at Cornell University to help my work confront identity and racial dynamics in the 20th and 21st centuries.

My disability is something I could keep to myself, but it was really important to me to give voice to it. When I was seven or eight years old, I never saw people with disabilities. When I paint, I occupy space as my whole self, not just the useful or pretty parts of me. You get the idea.

MC: Which women inspire you?

LA: Amanda Gorman and her use of voice. Although she is not alive, Maya Angelou has completely inspired my art with her stories. Also, my mother.

MC: Describe your style.

LA: I think of clothing and fashion as another kind of paint, using the body as a canvas. I think fashion gives us a place to be candid about who we are and our creativity.

I love fashion. I love building up an outfit in the same way that I build up layers and textures of paint. I love pops of color and always choose items that make a statement. I never miss an opportunity to dress. I find my favorite designers on Instagram: Source Unknown, Local European, Dress Article, etc. Then there's Tibi. I also love vintage clothing and recycle stores.

MC: What is one piece of advice you would give to empower women?

LA: I think we are often forced to confront the uncomfortable aspects of ourselves, especially when we don't even know where we fit in. I really identify with this concept of grace and space. There is no end to accepting ourselves and thus others as well. It is not always convenient to make statements, but it will be okay.