|
Named after her grandmother, Maria Eva was
born August, 1977, into a comfortable family in
the beautiful region of San Diego, California.
She passionately pursued ballet throughout her
adolescence, and continues to do so today. At
the same time, she began to paint landscapes
of the surrounding regions, and immediately
demonstrated a confident, natural talent. At
the age of 18, Maria enrolled in the prestigious
Fine Arts program of the University of Southern
California, where this talent flourished.
In Maria’s first year at the University she
received “President’s Honor” in a juried
exhibition, and went on to display much of
her work in several shows at the Blue Spiral Art
Gallery in Santa Cruz. Maria was also awarded
a one-year internship at the Georgia Museum
of Art, during which she learned the various
aspects of organizing an art exhibit. In her Senior
Year she won “Best In Show” at a juried student
exhibition. She subsequently earned her
Bachelor of Fine Arts, graduating Magna Cum
Laude.
Most significant for Maria, however, was her
third year of University, which she spent abroad
in Cortona, Italy, studying the Italian masters.
Beyond allowing her an opportunity to witness
and study first hand so much of the master-
pieces she had only read of in California,
Maria’s time in Europe also put her in touch with
various other contemporary artists and art forms,
broadening her knowledge and fortifying her
confidence as a creative. Her studies abroad
also put her in contact with an artistic and
personal mentor, Judy Jones – a professor who
still acts as a strong influence and motivation
for all of Maria’s work.
Maria moved to Atlanta, GA in 1998 with her
fiancé, and has most recently exhibited her
work at the renowned Nexus Contemporary Art
Center. While she misses the ocean of her youth,
she nonetheless finds great inspiration in the vast
landscapes of the Southeastern United States.
|
|
|
