Meet Our Team

Veronica Figueroa Velez

Heidi Figueroa Velez

Whether I’m sawing, threading beads, or frosting a cake, I’m searching for the same thing: connection.

My art is rooted in my lived experience—as a Puerto Rican woman, and as someone who’s walked beside others in their most vulnerable moments. Years spent as a forensic interviewer and advocate have shown me how stories shape us; how what we wear, how we adorn ourselves, can be armor, memory, or a kind of declaration.

Jewelry and hair pieces aren’t just accessories to me. They’re tiny monuments to resilience, crafted from silver, wood, glass, or whatever material calls out that day. Sometimes they’re bold and loud; sometimes they’re subtle. Always, they’re a gesture—a way of saying “I’m here, and I matter.”

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I’m equally at home with a sawing machine or a stand mixer. Cakes, like jewelry, are about celebration. They’re ephemeral, but they bring people together. It’s the act of making—shaping, transforming, offering—that drives me, whatever the medium. Art, for me, is about creating spaces for joy, strength, and healing. Every piece I make is an invitation: to wear, to taste, to remember, to dream.

Art is my bridge—from pain to healing, from isolation to community. My journey actually began building scenery and painting mini murals at a church in Isabela, Puerto Rico, where I first saw how art could unite people and spark hope. That belief only deepened when I moved to Madison, and it continues to guide everything I do.

With over 20 years of experience working with victims of crime, I’ve seen firsthand how creativity can help people reclaim their voices and rebuild their lives. Through my small business, Art MVF & Design, I lead healing groups for individuals and organizations, using art as a catalyst for resilience and transformation.

My Puerto Rican heritage and Madison roots inspire me to create art that empowers, heals, and brings people together. I believe every act of art can turn wounds into strength—and help us all imagine a more connected, hopeful future.

With over a decade of experience in the nonprofit world running organizations, I also help nonprofits creatively expand their funding. From developing innovative programs to writing winning grants, I draw on my lived experience to connect with communities, spark new ideas, and grow lasting impact.