Maria R. Schneider
Raising Philadelphia, 2023
Acrylic sheets, cement, acrylic paint
42" x 12" x 10"

Artist Statement

My work challenges societal perceptions and weaves intricate narratives by exploring the built environment through the innovative use of plexiglass and paper. Each piece begins with a carefully selected image of a city or building, serving as a portal to its past, present, and potential future. Through meticulous research, I uncover the layered story of each place-its evolution, current significance, and future possibilities.
Employing cutting-edge laser technology, I etch elaborate designs onto plexiglass and paper, creating a physical manifestation of these urban stories. The process of hand-coloring the laser-etched grooves adds depth and vibrancy, resulting in interconnected layers that visually narrate the complex history and potential of each urban space.My primary inspiration stems from urban environments and the spaces we inhabit. The mirror makes the viewer part of the work.

Artist Bio

Maria Schneider's art derives from a deep exploration of time and place, through the lens of architectural history. She creates cityscapes and landscapes that merge the past to the present of place. A native of Madrid, Spain, Schneider studied at The Art Student League in New York, NY, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, PA. She is a member of NextFab, a makers-space in Philadelphia, where she works with lasers, LED lighting, and other technologies which she incorporates in her artistic practice. Previously, she completed a Law Degree and an MBA, disciplines that now inform her work. Drawing and experimentation have always been central to her artistic practice in which she marries art and technology using basic elements of drawing and simple lighting techniques. Her new ventures into photography use layering ideas to create mystical landscapes of color and shape. Her work is part of several corporate collections - CubeSmart, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, AIR Communities, Rhino Investments, Raynes Lawn Hehmeyer, Lincoln Harris, myCIO, as well as private collections.

www.mariaRschneider.com

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