About the Artist
Maria Greenshields-Ziman is a multidisciplinary artist whose work focuses on the exploration of organic systems and human intervention with an emphasis on environmental awareness and conservation. She invites a closer look at the world, introducing the notion of layers of perception waiting to be explored. For this reason, she does not limit herself to any particular medium but engages in public art, drawing, painting, sculpture, and installation.
Select Exhibitions
Born in Devonshire, England, Maria completed a Foundation Course at Exeter College of Art and a BA in Sculpture at Wimbledon School of Art, London. She has exhibited in South Africa at the Everard Read Gallery, in the UK at the Glasgow Print Studio, the Royal Society of Wildlife Artists, John Thompson Gallery, and Wimbourne Sculpture Park, the US with Milken Centre, Los Angeles and Context Art Miami.
2023 | CONTEXT ART MIAMI, solo-booth, Miami, FL
A+D Museum INK, Los Angeles, CA
Venice Family Clinic Art Walk Benefit Auction, Santa Monica, CA
Incognito, ICA LA, Los Angeles, CA
2022 | Summer on 7th, Inner City Arts, Los Angeles, CA
Incognito, ICA LA, Los Angeles, CA
DTCare Arts Auction, Moon Township, PA
Venice Family Clinic Art Walk Benefit Auction, Santa Monica, CA
2021 | Venice Family Clinic Art Walk Benefit Auction, Venice, CA
2020 | Camp Ubuntu Benefit Auction, Harold Robinson Foundation
Incognito, ICA LA, Los Angeles, CA
GOING HOME: a picture show, TZ Projects, West Hollywood, CA
Venice Family Clinic Art Walk Benefit Auction, Venice, CA
2019 | Summer on 7th, Inner City Arts, Los Angeles, CA
Live Painting with Ralph Ziman during The Casspir Project Exhibition, The Rendon Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Forest Bathing, The Loft at Liz’s West Hollywood, California
Guest Live Painter and Participant Venice Art Walk and Auction Venice, California
2018 | Barns, Wallflower Restaurant Venice, California
Hidden Rooms, The Rendon Hotel Los Angeles, California
Incognito, ICA LA Los Angeles, CA
Venice Art Walk and Auction Venice, California
2017 | Trees, F&M Gallery West Hollywood, California
Venice Art Walk and Auction, Venice, California
2016 | Fictional Homes, 234 Grand Blvd, Venice, California
Venice Art Walk and Auction, Venice, California
2015 | Venice Art Walk and Auction, Venice, California
2014 | Roots, Linus Gallery, Pasadena, California
2013 | Artblock Venice, Venice, California, USA
Venice Art Auction, Venice, California, USA
Incognito, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, California, USA
2012 | Venice Art Walk and Auction, Venice, California, USA
Solo Show, Red Fort Gallery, Venice, California, USA
Group Show, Liz’s Hardware, West Hollywood, California, USA
Incognito, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, California, USA
2011 | Group Show, Grand View Studios, Culver City, California, USA
Incognito, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, California, USA
2010 | Incognito, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, California, USA
2009 | Identity (3b+1), Pacific Palisades, California, USA
2007 | East Meets West, Finegood Art Gallery, Milken Centre, West Hills, California, USA
1997 | Wimbourne Sculpture Park, Wimbourne, Dorset, England
1996 | One Second – One Minute, South Bank, London, England
1995 | John Thompson Gallery, Mayfair, London, England
1993 | Wildlife in Africa, Everade Read Gallery, Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa
1992 | Art in the Garden, Yeovil Arts Centre, Yeovil, Somerset, England
1991 | Peter Hedley Gallery, Wareham, Dorset, England
1990 | Animals by British Sculptors, Glasgow Print Studio, Glasgow, Scotland
Gill Drey Gallery, Chelsea, London, England
1989 | Crucial Gallery, Nottinghill, London, England
Stephen Bartley Gallery, Chelsea, London, England
Art in the Family, Yeovil Arts Centre, Yeovil, Somerset, England
1988 | Henley Arts Festival, Henley on Thames, Surrey, England
Gill Drey Gallery, Chelsea, London, England
1987 | Royal Society of Wildlife Artists, The Mall Gallery, Westminster, London, England
Golden Square, Soho, London
Collections & Commissions
Anglo Vaal Mining, Gauteng, South Africa
Mr Eric Fellner, Working Title Films, London
London Interiors, Chelsea, London
Sir John Keeling, British Sky Broadcasting, London
Stirling PR, Chelsea, London
Design of Agricultural Award, Reed Publishing Group, Surrey, England
Mr Alan, Ari Lazar, Santa Monica, California
Press & Publications
Shout Out LA
The Daily Telegraph
The Evening Standard
Chelsea News
South London Press
Henley News
Farmers Weekly
Observer Magazine
Spectator
1988 April BBC Television, Daytime Live
About the work
I am fascinated by the complexity of natural pattern and the transformative effect of sunlight upon contour. The latticework of a tree’s branches in silhouette or the play of cloud shadow over the roll of a hill are the kind of images that inspire me.
Trees and forests, along with accompanying flora, are a key motif and a prevalent theme in my work. Ever since my childhood in rural England, I have observed how the tree’s modulating shape is the principle player in forming the character and ambiance of landscape. No matter how massive, a tree is still sadly fragile and cruelly vulnerable to the forces of change. We are made increasingly aware of the indispensability of forests in maintaining the health of our planet. I observe how the bark, or skin of a tree, complete with the textural imperfections wrought by age and decay bear testimony to the health of the whole.
My work is heavily process driven, strictly non-purist in approach, and much of the time experimental in terms of the combination of materials used. It is not easy to define or categorize. Each piece is both a journey and an exploration. Maybe due to the fact that I trained as a sculptor rather than a painter I am constantly searching for the means to depict three dimensionality, perspective and the play of light, onto what is essentially a flat surface. For this reason the product often becomes multilayered and textural.