Maria Morales is an established visual artist creating modern abstract art. Born in Portugal,. Maria received her BFA in Illustration from Parson’s School of Design in New York City and currently resides in New Jersey. Throughout a career that has spanned graphic design, print production, web design, technology strategy and research, as well as computer graphics training, Maria always pursued her primary passion of creating art and is an internationally collected artist. 

Traditionally working in a realistic style using oil on canvas and wood, Maria has transitioned to abstract painting. She has found creating abstract artwork a stimulating and challenging undertaking that requires determination and hard work mixed with imagination and inventiveness,  truly different  than realism. Now creating art full-time in her studio, Maria’s work is mixed media using acrylic, collage, and a variety of mark-making tools. Much of her artwork is comprised of multiple layers of paint, marks, collage, drawing, and textures. Playfulness in color, values, shapes, and composition serve to add interest to the work. Maria’s abstract paintings are a refection of her inner thoughts and emotions, her struggles to reconcile and overcome childhood trauma, and triumphs. Painting abstractly allows the freedom and opportunity to showcase her feelings, intuition, ideas, and individual expression. The work may reflect the loneliness of walking alone, the beauty of a sunlit flower, or the coolness and jewel tones of glistening water. 

In the artist’s words:
    “Creating art is a journey that fills me with excitement and peace of mind; 
      it takes me away from the concerns and stresses of daily life.”     
                                       — Maria Morales