Maria Oliveira
Maria Oliveira is a self-taught Fine Art Photographer born and raised in northern Spain, now based in Southern California.
For years, she enjoyed landscape and travel photography, but truly discovered her passion when she unlocked the potential of Photoshop and fine art compositing.
Using herself as the main subject in each photograph, Maria constructs her otherworldly reality. Often dark yet vibrant, her work is set in nature, ultimately connecting everything together.
It is within this space that she explores the turmoil of conflicting emotions—the process of taking control of her own life, only to realize that this is a journey we are all part of.
Artist Statement
As human beings, we are on a spiritual journey, trying to find our path, follow our bliss, and figure out our place in the world. And, like any journey worth taking, it’s not an easy process. A mixture of feelings awaits at every step of the way, both positive and negative, representing the age-old struggle between the heart and the mind.
I use photography (specifically self-portraiture) as a tool to externalize what I experience in my own life in a cathartic way. My art is nothing more than an artistic expression of basic human emotions, particularly when confronted with the choice of falling down the rabbit hole into the unknown, or staying in the safe and predictable life that has been carefully designed for us.
My visions are surreal, dark, painterly, and filled with vibrant colors, all serving to communicate a positive message: In the end, we are the creators of our own reality, so let’s follow our hearts.
www.maria-oliveira.com
What initially drew you to art?
What drew me to art was a need to express the entire range of feelings I was experiencing at a particular moment in my life. I didn’t know who I was or what I was supposed to do with myself, but it all boiled down to a point where I felt I needed to try and materialize those feelings visually with a camera. And, oh, was it worth it!
What elements of your life have ended up becoming a part of your art?
Everything that I love and am interested in! I always leave little clues related to mythology—one of my passions—along with science, symbolism, philosophy, and especially the existential questions I constantly ask myself to better understand who I am and what lies in my subconscious. I am deeply fascinated by the collective unconscious, the spiritual world, and how nature seems to connect us to those “invisible” worlds that we often ignore in our everyday lives.
What about your practice do you find the most fulfilling and/or energizing?
The whole process of taking an idea that is completely intangible and materializing it is honestly one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. I create art for myself, so the fact that another person can find value in something I’ve made is a wonderful sensation. I’m not sure it can be fully described, but somehow, it makes you feel connected to something bigger than yourself.
Tell us about your experience getting to where you are now. What has been the most important thing you’ve learned?
I’ve learned that ideas cannot be forced. They need time to develop without pressure, just like everything in life. Once you’re on the path to bringing that idea to life, something very strange happens: the idea starts to take over, and you essentially become a medium, doing as you’re told. I very rarely end up with an image that looks like what I had in mind when I started. It changes and evolves, and at some point in this process, my input is almost irrelevant, as the piece asks for what it needs.
How has ‘community’ impacted your artistic practice?
If there’s one thing the art community has constantly provided me, it’s inspiration and a push to make my art better. Art calls for art. Being surrounded by a community of motivated artists who resonate with your energy definitely helps elevate your own work. I believe art is an agent of change, and more importantly, connection. It tends to focus on understanding each other as humans, rather than emphasizing what separates us.
