Maria Liebana is a contemporary artist based in Queens, NY represented by Kravets Wehby Gallery, whose layered, multimedia collages are inspired by pop-culture, the scenery she encounters daily, and her own life experiences. She shares her journey through art school, the challenges of maintaining a practice, and the importance of community in an artist's life.

Here’s what we discuss :

1. Maria’s reflections on her educational journey, including her time at the Maine College of Art and the importance of setting and redefining personal goals.

2. The significance of building and maintaining an artist community, especially after the transition from art school to the broader art world.

3. Practical advice for emerging artists, including the importance of consistent practice, the role of social media, and the need for supportive relationships.

About Maria -

Maria Yolanda Liebana is a first generation Latinx artist that grew up in Paterson, NJ. She received her BFA from Pratt Institute and her MFA from Maine College of Art. Her work has been exhibited at the Fitchburg Art Museum, Bailey Contemporary Arts, Cambridge Art Association, ICA Portland, Maine, and she had a solo exhibition at Kravets Wehby Gallery in NYC in 2022. Her work is in prominent collections such as the Pizzuti Collection at the Columbus Museum of Art, OH. In 2018 and 2020, she was awarded the Queens Council on the Arts New Works Grant. She has been an artist in residence at Vermont Studio Center, Pickwick Independent Press, and Kates-Ferri Projects (2021). She will be attending Bischcoff Inn micro-residency this summer. Her work is held in private collections in the United States.

Website: marialiebana.com

IG: @yolabola

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