Artist Spotlight - Maria Redrick — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Biography

Maria Redrick is an American painter & designer born Cleveland, Ohio in 1981. She grew up watching her father illustrate and her mother modern dance so naturally she took a bite out of art early in life. As a child her pastime was spent drawing from comics and dreaming of becoming Wonder Woman. Maria was often fascinated with the shapes of the anatomical figure specifically the head and torso. It is with no surprise that she later went on to study in arts.

Dame avec Dimension, 2021. Oil and gold leaf on canvas, 100 x 120 cm

She received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Advertising at the Columbus College of Art and Design in 2004. Maria worked in graphic design for 12 years in New York City all while maintaining her love for fine arts; specifically oil painting. In 2019, She left her job as an art director and decided to pursue her dreams traveling and painting.

Lily of the Ashanti, 2021. Oil and gold leaf on canvas, 100 x 150 cm

Maria’s work has shown to be very versatile exhibiting in different countries. Her series “Diamonds, Sequins and Feathers” was featured in Milan, Italy at M.A.D.S. art gallery in 2020. In this series she explores gender equality.

The Most Divine Kind, 2021. Oil and gold leaf on canvas, 80 x 120 cm

Her most recent series “Ghana in Gold” exhibited in 2021 in Hua Hin, Thailand; explores the ideas of labor and exploitation. Maria focuses on capturing her subject’s internal stories and expressions through figure painting. Today, Maria spends her days traveling, painting and borrowing inspiration from interesting people along her journey.

A Head of the Sun, 2021. Oil and gold leaf on canvas, 100 x 150 cm

Artist Statement

I did not fall in love with art. It fell in love with me. It grabbed a hold of me and squeezed so tight it permeated my soul. I do not claim to be an expert or to even have good work. I just know that something takes a hold of my body when I am inspired, and in that moment without delay, I am obligated to deliver and succumb to the needs of my creative right brain.

Golden Hands of the Labyrinth, 2021. Oil and gold leaf on canvas, 100 x 120 cm

My work is primarily figurative because I am in love with people—all people. The emotions, the friendliness, the laughter. Sure, there are people who have an eye-catching exterior who at first glance look like they should be captured. I am more interested in internal stories like why they fled their home country or why their lips and eyebrows curl when they are in deep thought.

Untitled, 2021. Oil and gold leaf on canvas, 100 x 120 cm

Through the use of oil painting I can capture those stories that are written in their body language. And like oil, their stories are fluid, forgiving and genuine. I have been using vibrant colors in my work lately to help portray the emotion my subject exudes. For example, If they are passionate in that moment, I like to play up that intensity by using a bright red hue in the background. I also incorporate gold foiling to add a bit of richness to the work.

Everyday Mime, 2020. Oil on canvas, 80 x 100 cm

Most of the time, my work has a subliminal social undertone which is meant to add to the concept or story but not to detract from the subject. I paint because it is therapy to me and my subject. I want to share my subject’s beautiful story and relatable message. Why? Because they deserve it and their stories, through the medium of oil paint, will last throughout time.

Muay Thai Prince, 2019. Oil on canvas, 80 x 100 cm

Maria’s work has shown to be very versatile exhibiting in different countries. Her series “Diamonds, Sequins and Feathers” was featured in Milan, Italy at M.A.D.S. art gallery in 2020. In this series she explores gender equality. Her most recent series “Ghana in Gold” exhibited in 2021 in Hua Hin, Thailand; explores the ideas of labor and exploitation.

Diamonds, Sequins and Feathers Part 1, 2019. Oil on canvas, 90 x 120 cm

Maria focuses on capturing her subject’s internal stories and expressions through figure painting. Today, Maria spends her days traveling, painting and borrowing inspiration from interesting people along her journey.

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