About the Artist

Sunflower (Pink Vase) 2023

I grew up in a small town in Connecticut and moved to Philadelphia to attend the University of the Arts where I earned a BFA in Painting and Masters in Art Teaching. Taking a mid-way break from school, I traveled Europe, settled in Italy where I lived and studied for two years.

After college, I maintained a studio on the Italian Market in Philadelphia for over twenty years.  My current studio is in the SoHA Arts Building in Haddon Township, New Jersey.

I have taught art in both public and private schools and now teach at SoHA.  

I live in New Jersey with my family.

 

About the Work

Making a painting is like organizing a curio cabinet. I arrange shapes, colors, patterns and objects into vignettes. I move elements around, subtracting and adding until everything settles into place. Then I shut the curio cabinet door quickly, before the compulsion to rearrange takes over.

Making a painting is like setting a dining room table. Items are chosen and arranged and then the edits begin. I obsessively make marks, sand them away, and make more marks. I leave a trail of pattern and color like the crumbs left after a satisfying meal.

Making a painting reveals an understory. What you don’t see right away makes for a good narrative. The shape of a bouquet that reminds you of a thought bubble. Or the ghost drawing in the background peeking through. It could be just a gut reaction to impossible color or a slightly off kilter drawing. Moments that make you tilt your head and say “hmm?”.

Making a painting is like a child’s game of telephone. I begin with a clear direction but have no idea where I will end up. What starts off green, becomes yellow and then finally red. I think I’m making a quiet painting and all of a sudden find myself squeezing out a blob of loud cadmium orange.

Resume

 

EDUCATION

University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA

1993   Master of Arts in Teaching/Art Certification K-12
1988   Bachelor of Fine Arts, Painting

Cleveland Institute of Art, Florence, Italy

1986    Study Abroad Program SACI, Florence, Italy

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

  • Cherry Hill Public Library, Cherry Hill, NJ

  • SoHa Arts Building, Haddon Township, NJ

  • Arts Plus Gallery, Collingswood, NJ

  • POST - Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, Philadelphia, PA

  • Langman Gallery, Willow Grove, PA

  • Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ

  • Hypno Gallery - Solo Exhibition, Moorestown, NJ

  • Samuel S Fleisher Art Memorial - Challenge Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA

  • Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA

  • Bucks Gallery of Fine Art, Newtown, PA

  • Pendimenti Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

  • Main Line Art Center for the Arts, Haverford, PA

  • Hopkins House, Haddon Township, NJ

  • William Penn Charter School, Philadelphia, PA

  • Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA

  • Community Gallery of the Philadelphia Foundation, Philadelphia, PA

AWARDS

  • Mary Townsend Mason Prize for Flower Painting, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA

  • Hazell Award, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia PA

  • Challenge Exhibition, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  • SoHa Arts Building, Haddon Township, NJ

  • Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorsetown, NJ

  • Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA

  • School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

  • Voorhees School District, Voorhees, NJ

  • Queen Village Art and Dance, Philadelphia, PA

Teaching

Currently teaching art at SoHa Arts, Haddon Township, NJ.  For more information and class schedule go to SoHaArtsBuilding.org and Facebook.com/MariaChristopherArt.