Biography
Maria Paredes (b. 1984, Santa Monica, Ca) lives and works in Los Angeles, Ca. She is a graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, (2008) and also studied at the California College of the Arts in Oakland, as well as abroad at SACI in Florence, Italy. Paredes finds inspiration in her surroundings, both past and present. She works in mixed media and her paintings are multilayered, using found imagery, as well as her own, and digital collage.
Maria Paredes has been in many group shows. She has been a part of the Los Angeles Art Association and were in group shows curated by Mills Moran from Moran Moran Gallery and Martha Otero. She has shown in Pre Incognito/ Igcognito at the ICA, alongside artists such as John Baldessari, Milton Glasser, and Raymond Pettibon.
Artist Statement
My work delves into personal identity, belonging, and memory, using painting, collage, and mixed media to explore the unspoken aspects of experience. I often turn to these mediums as a way to navigate complexities that words can't quite capture, creating space for what lies beyond language.
Incorporating found imagery like family photos and archival materials, I create visual layers that intertwine past and present. These elements serve as touchstones for memory, inviting a conversation between what was and what is, and revealing new perspectives on familiar moments. The act of layering, both literally and conceptually, allows me to uncover hidden narratives and reinterpret my history in a more tactile way.
Collage is central to my process, as it adds a sense of history and depth to the work. The accumulation of materials mirrors the complexity of memory and identity, offering me a chance to experiment with texture and form while amplifying the tension between different layers of meaning.
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Education
2008 School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, MA
2004 California College of the Arts San Francisco, CA
2008 School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, MA
2004 California College of the Arts San Francisco, CA
Study Abroad Program
2006 Studio Arts College International Florence, Italy
2006 Studio Arts College International Florence, Italy
Group Exhibitions
2019 Ashes Of Hope Benefit/Fundraiser Downtown Los Angeles, CA
2017 The $100 Show Co-Lab Gallery Los Angeles, CA
2014 Baroque Curated by Mills Moran Los Angeles Arts Association Los Angeles, CA
2014 Habitual Curated by Martha Otero Los Angeles Arts Association Los Angeles, CA
2013 Precognito/Incognito Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, CA
2012 Precognito/Incognito Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, CA
2009 Art Walk Bow & Sparrow Downtown Los Angeles, CA
2008 Conceptual Mining DIY Gallery Echo Park, CA
2019 Ashes Of Hope Benefit/Fundraiser Downtown Los Angeles, CA
2017 The $100 Show Co-Lab Gallery Los Angeles, CA
2014 Baroque Curated by Mills Moran Los Angeles Arts Association Los Angeles, CA
2014 Habitual Curated by Martha Otero Los Angeles Arts Association Los Angeles, CA
2013 Precognito/Incognito Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, CA
2012 Precognito/Incognito Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, CA
2009 Art Walk Bow & Sparrow Downtown Los Angeles, CA
2008 Conceptual Mining DIY Gallery Echo Park, CA