Maria Fernandez

Contemporary Artist - Abstract Painter

 

 

Maria Fernandez was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and is based in Melbourne Australia since 1986, and also in Barcelona Spain since 2015.

Maria's formal art training includes courses and workshops over the past 16 years with some well established Australian contemporary artists, such as Richard Granville-Smith, David Moore, Adriane Strampp and Michael Mark, and more recently with American artist Rebecca Crowell who specializes in Cold Wax medium.

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Maria works predominantly with the painting medium, and also sometimes with photography and assemblages using found objects and recycling materials. She is inspired by the diversity of textures and colours drawn from nature, and by objects and materials that have being used, have aged, and have then been discarded. She is interested in the history embedded in these objects, in their texture of decay. Maria mainly paints abstract forms to reflect the environment that surrounds her, the elements that she remembers or that for some reason have caught her attention in the past.

 

Maria's technique is mainly based on building textures as well as layers of colour of different depth. She experiments with media and techniques to express herself with freedom and with no boundaries. She is inspired by American Abstract Expressionists, mainly Rothko and Pollock, as well as many of the Catalan maestros of modern times Tapies, Miro and Picasso.

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Solo Exhibitions

2022                            “Moving emotions”, Alabrica Hotel (5*) Gallery, Costa Brava Spain

2022                             Mondus NFT Gallery, Barcelona Spain

2022                            “Nillumbik Artists Open Studios”, Eltham Library Victoria Australia

2022                            “Abstracta”, Studio 42 Arte y Diseño, Barcelona Spain

2022                            “Nillumbik Artists Open Studios” Eltham North Australia

2020                            “Unimaginable”, Alternating Current ArtSpace, Melbourne Australia

2019                            “De Arena y Mar”, Studio 42, Barcelona Spain

2018                            “Two Lives”, Retorno Studio Gallery, Barcelona Spain

2014                            “Fresh Perspectives”, Art at Linden Gate Gallery, Yarra Glen Australia

2013                            “Agua y Tierra”, The Light Factory Gallery, Eltham

 

Group Exhibitions 

2022                            “Nillumbik Artists Open Studios”, Eltham Library Victoria Australia

2022                            “Virtual Collective Exhibition” Galleryone962

2021                            “Melbourne Artists” Online exhibition

2018                            “Open Day” Poblenou Urban District, Barcelona Spain

2018                            “Artbox.Project New York 1.0”, Stricoff Gallery, New York

2017                            “Muestra colectiva de artistas NauART”, NauART gallery, Barcelona Spain

2014                            “Kaleidoscope”, ANZ Bank, Melbourne Australia

2014                            “Nillumbik Prize” (Finalist), Montsalvat Barn Gallery, Eltham Australia

2013                            “Kaleidoscope”, ANZ Bank, Melbourne Australia

2013                            “CamART”, CGGS Foundation, Melbourne Australia

2013                            “Flanagan Art Prize” (Finalist) – University of Ballarat, Ballarat Australia

2012                            “Kaleidoscope”, ANZ Bank, Melbourne Australia

2011                            “Kaleidoscope”, ANZ Bank, Melbourne Australia

2009                            “Eco-city photography competition”, pigmentGALLERY, Melbourne Australia

 

Awards

2009                            Two photographs commended in the Melbourne “Eco-city photography competition”

 

Shortlisted Prizes

2014                            “Nillumbik Prize” (Finalist), Montsalvat Barn Gallery, Eltham Australia

2013                            “Flanagan Art Prize” (Finalist) – University of Ballarat, Ballarat Australia

 

Education

2005                            Masters in Software Engeneering, Swinburne University

2017                            Artist in Residence, Art Print Residence, Arenys de Munt Spain

2015                            Cold Wax workshop, with Rebecca Crowell, Drezzo Italy

2014-2015                   Encaustic workshops, with Australian artist Michelangello Russo, Melbourne Australia

2010-2014                   Painting and drawing workshops, Myers Creek Studio with established contemporary artist Richard Granville-Smith

2008                            Abstract Painting, NMIT Melbourne, with established contemporary artist Adriane Strampp, Melbourne Australia

2008                            Painting, Latrobe College of Art & Design with established contemporary artist Michael Mark, Melbourne Australia

2007                            Graphic Design, Latrobe College of Art & Design, Melbourne Australia

2006-2007                   Abstract Painting, CAE, Melbourne Australia

2002-2009                   Painting and Drawing workshops, Montsalvat with established artists David Moore, Richard Granville-Smith and Michael                                        Mark, Melbourne Australia

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