About Maria

María was raised in Spain during the tail end of Franco’s dictatorship. “I am a product of transition, of social privilege, and a post-industrial Basque society; marked by both the 80’s economic crisis of my adolescence and a conservative Spanish education. A great deal of my adult life has been divided between Canada and Spain.”
I lived in Saskatoon, where I became a University of Saskatchewan B.F.A. Honours graduate in painting and Art History. In 1996 I moved to Ottawa, where I studied History for two years, without completing a M.A. at Carleton University. During the following 24 years I have continued my art career in art; Creating, exhibiting, organizing and teaching, as well as continuing furthering my education through post-university studies in history, graphic design, printing, ceramics, traditional tiling and textiles. I have recently completed my Masters in Art Therapy in Spain, where I live with my family, paint, teach and use art therapy at public and private places.

About my art

My paintings are colourful and exaggerated images, where most likely a woman is going about her regular day, somewhere in contemporary Western culture. My reference is based on history, memory and fantasy and present it in combination with humour, beauty and concept. The idea is to express my inner thoughts while trying to attract an audience that can relate to what they see.

Artist